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JAVA:  PAST &f PRESENT 

A  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  MOST  BEAUTIFUL  COUN- 
TRY IN  THE  WORLD,  ITS  ANCIENT  HISTORY, 
PEOPLE,   ANTIQUITIES,  AND  PRODUCTS    ^    ^    BY 

DONALD      MACLAINE     CAMPBELL 

LATE  BRITISH  VICE-CONSUL  OF  THAT  ISLAND  ;  MEMBER  OF  THE  DUTCH 
COUNCIL  OF  SAMARANG  (gEWESTELYKE  RAAd)  ;  MEMBER  OF  THE  CHAMBER 
OF    COMMERCE    OF    SAMARANG        M  X  X  M  M 

WITH    A     MAP    AND     MANY     ILLUSTRATIONS 


IN    TWO    VOLUxMES 
VOLUME    I 


LONDON    WILLIAM   HEINEMANN 


London  :  William  Heinemann,  iQiJ- 


US 

J 


INTRODUCTORY    NOTE 

My  husband  lived  in  Java  for  twenty-three  years.  In  the 
course  of  that  time,  both  through  his  business  connections 
and  by  virtue  of  his  official  position,  he  had  unusual  oppor- 
tunities to  become  famihar  with  the  country  and  all  classes 
of  its  people.  For  the  last  five  or  six  years  of  his  residence 
there  this  book  was  something  more  than  the  occupation 
of  his  leisure  hours.  He  gave  a  great  portion  of  his  time  to 
it,  and  spared  neither  labour  nor  expense  in  the  search  for 
original  authorities  for  the  verification  of  his  facts.  It  had 
been  his  intention  to  divide  the  book  into  two  parts,  the 
first  consisting  of  a  general  history  and  description  of  Java, 
and  the  second  devoted  to  the  story  of  the  commerce  and 
industries  of  the  island. 

After  his  return  to  England  in  1912  he  set  to  work  with 
enthusiasm  to  finish  his  task.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  on 
2  June  1,  1913,  the  first  part  of  the  book  was  written  and 
*j  the  revision  for  the  press  had  been  commenced.  That  is 
the  portion  presented  in  these  two  volumes.  Whether  the 
material  which  he  left  for  the  second  part — the  commercial 
section — will  be  published  later  in  a  third  volume  has  yet 
to  be  decided.  These  two  volumes  make,  as  will  be  seen,  a 
complete  unit  in  themselves,  and,  with  some  editorial 
revision,  are  published  as  he  wrote  them.  The  work  of 
preparing  the  matter  for  the  press  has  been  done  by  Mr.  G.  C. 
Wheeler. 

M.   CAMPBELL. 


303663 


My  Father 

COLONEL    FREDERICK    CAMPBELI>, 
C.B.,  V.D.  (late  R.A.) 

THE    FRIEND    OF    MANY    HAPPY    MOMENTS, 
AS    A    MARK    OF    MY    HIGH    ESTEEM 


PREFACE 

Having  decided  to  write  a  History  of  Java,  my  first  task 
wag  not  only  to  read  all  I  could,  but  to  collect  as  large  a 
library  of  reference  books,  manuscripts,  and  papers  as  was 
possible.  In  this  I  was  very  successful  owing  to  the  inde- 
fatigable and  generous  energy  and  assistance  given  me  by 
Mr.  J.  H.  Fricker,  of  Upper  Norwood,  an  old  Dulwich 
College  boy,  who  somehow  or  other  managed  to  hunt  up 
and  secure  a  copy  of  practically  every  publication  I  wanted 
on  the  subject  of  Java  from  the  sixteenth  up  to  the  nine- 
teenth century. 

The  chief  works,  to  which  very  grateful  recognition  is 
due,  are  : — 

Sir  Stamford  EafQes's  "  History  of  Java,"  printed  in 
1817  ;  "'Memoirs  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,"  by  his  wife, 
printed  in  1830  ;  D'Almeida's  "  Life  in  Java  "  ;  "  The 
Indian  Archipelago,"  by  Resident  John  Crawfurd,  F.R.S., 
printed  in  1823  ;  Major  Thorn's  "  Expedition  to  Java," 
printed  in  1817  ;  Dr.  de  Haan's  "  Priangan,"  four  vols., 
pubhshed  by  G.  Kolff  &  Co.,  Batavia ;  "  Munten  van 
Nederlandsch  Indie,"  by  Netscher  and  van  der  Chys ; 
"  Researches  on  Ptolemj^'s  Geography,"  by  Colonel  G.  E. 
Gerini,  M.R.A.S.  ;  "  Encyclopaedia  of  Netherlands  India  "  ; 
"  Ledger  and  Sword,"  by  Beckles  Willson  (a  very  excellent 
book)  ;  "  The  Journal  of  the  Indian  Archipelago  "  ;  Harris's 
"  Voyages,"  printed  1744  ;  "  Java,"  by  Professor  Veth  ; 
Java  Government  Gazette ;  "  Twentieth  Century  Impres- 
sions of  Netherlands  India  "  ;  "  Report  on  the  Records 
of  the  India  Office,"  by  Sir  George  Bird  wood  ;  "  The 
Malay  Archipelago,"  by  Professor  Alfred  Russel  Wallace  ; 
"Further  India,"  by  Sir  Hugh  Clifford;  "  Marsden's 
History  of  Sumatra,"  printed  1811  ;  "  Messiah  :  the 
Ancestral  Hope  of  the  Ages,"  by  E.  A.  Gordon  ;    "  Lord 


X  PREFACE 

Minto  in  India,"  1807—1814  ;  "  History  of  Nepaul,"  by 
D.  Wright ;  Kaempfer's  "  History  of  Japan  "  ;  *'  Notes  on 
the  Malay  Archipelago,"  by  Groeneveldt,  and  numerous 
manuscripts  written  by  the  late  Dr.  Brandes,  Mr.  van  der 
Chys,  and  C.  M.  Pleyte,  of  Batavia. 

Of  these  and  many  others  of  perhaps  lesser  importance  I 
have  made  use  and  now  and  again  drawn  freely  upon  them. 
Otherwise  the  history  is  the  result  of  personal  study. 

The  study  of  Eastern  peoples  during  my  twenty-five 
years'  sojourn  in  the  Far  East  has  alwaj^s  been  a  peculiarly 
dehghtful  subject  to  me,  but  no  Eastern  folk  have  interested 
and  fascinated  me  more  than  the  Javans  of  the  Dutch  East 
Indies.  Their  daily  tasks,  their  religion,  their  amusements, 
their  customs,  their  feasts,  their  life,  I  have  quite  entered 
into  and  lived  in  thought  as  one  of  them.  Sorrows  they 
have  none,  at  least  not  as  we  know  them.  The  more  I  knew 
of  them  the  more  excitement  was  engendered  to  learn  and 
study  them  further. 

There  are  a  few  men  in  the  East  who  have  experienced 
my  feelings,  but  they  have  had  an  advantage  which  I  have 
not  had,  namely,  that  of  being  able  to  transcribe  to  paper, 
with  a  full-flowing  and  vivid  pen,  the  thrilling  colour  of 
their  Oriental  experiences.  Take  for  instance  Sir  Hugh 
Clifford  :  what  books  of  Eastern  life  are  more  fascinating 
than  his  ?  I,  on  the  contrary,  have  unfortunately  lacked 
this  quality. 

In  presenting,  therefore,  these  humble  unpretentious 
volumes  to  the  public  I  beg  to  assert  that  I  in  no  way  lay 
even  the  smallest  claim  for  any  great  originality,  literary 
abihty,  or  high  standard.  On  the  contrary,  I  am  aware 
that  my  collection  of  notes,  pamphlets,  and  memoranda 
originally  transcribed  to  paper  to  give  myself  a  more 
succinct  and  more  intelligent  understanding  of  the  history 
of  Java — but  now  clubbed  together,  and  dubbed  a  history, 
for  the  English  public  in  Java— are  full  of  shortcomings. 


:  PAST  &  PRESENT 


X  PREFACE 

Minto  in  India,"  1807—1814  ;   "  History 
D.  Wright ;   Kaempfer's  *'  History  of  Japa 
the  Malay  Archipelago,"  by  Groene veldt 
manuscripts  written  by  the  late  Dr.  Branc 
Chys,  and  C.  M.  Pleyte,  of  Batavia. 

Of  these  and  many  others  of  perhaps  lesf 
have  made  use  and  now  and  again  drawn  fi 
Otherwise  the  history  is  the  result  of  person 

The  study  of  Eastern  peoples  during 
years'  sojourn  in  the  Far  East  has  always  I 
delightful  subject  to  me,  but  no  Eastern  foil 
and  fascinated  me  more  than  the  Javans  of 
Indies.  Their  daily  tasks,  their  rehgion,  th 
their  customs,  their  feasts,  their  life,  I  ha^ 
into  and  lived  in  thought  as  one  of  them 
have  none,  at  least  not  as  w^e  know  them.  *] 
of  them  the  more  excitement  was  engendei 
study  them  further. 

There  are  a  few  men  in  the  East  who  h 
my  feelings,  but  they  have  had  an  advanta 
not  had,  namely,  that  of  being  able  to  trari 
with  a  full- flowing  and  vivid  pen,  the  th: 
their  Oriental  experiences.  Take  for  insi 
Chfford  :  what  books  of  Eastern  life  are  r 
than  his  ?  I,  on  the  contrary,  have  unfor 
this  quality. 

In  presenting,  therefore,  these  humbk 
volumes  to  the  pubHc  I  beg  to  assert  that 
even  the  smallest  claim  for  any  great  orig 
ability,  or  high  standard.  On  the  contrai 
that  my  collection  of  notes,  pamphlets,  a 
originally  transcribed  to  paper  to  give 
succinct  and  more  intelhgent  understanding 
of  Java — but  now  clubbed  together,  and  di 
for  the  English  public  in  Java — are  full  of  si 


/    A 


JAVA:  PAST  &  PRESENT 


A   WOMAN    IN   THE   SAHARA. 

By  Helen  C.  Gordon. 
One  Volume,  crown  Svo,  illustrated,  65.  net. 


London  :     William    Heinemann. 


"'•■'•  ff'ri'ji'l]  [Upper  Norwood. 

THE    AUTHOR,    DONALD    MACLAINE    CAMPBELL. 


MRS.    DONALD    MACLAINE    CAMPBELL. 


PREFACE  xi 

There  is  still  one  point  I  desire  to  touch  on,  and  that  is, 
that  after  my  long  career  in  the  cosmopolitan  East,  of  which 
I  am  happy  to  say  the  greater  portion  has  been  spent  in 
the  Dutch  East  Indies,  there  is  no  foreign  (to  me  it  is  not 
foreign)  nation  in  the  world  for  which  I  have  a  higher  and 
deeper  respect,  and  a  greater  and  profounder  admiration 
and  regard,  than  the  Dutch. 

I  am  entitled  to  speak  as  having  been  privileged,  I  am 
proud  to  say,  to  enjoy  an  intercourse  with  merchants, 
civiHans,  judges.  Army  and  Navy  men,  and  Government 
of&cials  from  His  Excellency  the  Governor-General  down- 
wards.^ 

The  Dutch  have  of  course  their  nationaL  characteristics, 
as  we  have  ours,  but  in  honourable  methods,  always  taking 
into  consideration  their  desire  for  sureness,  even  if  it 
necessitates  slowness,  they  have  nothing  to  learn  from  any 
nation,  and  would  be  able  to  give,  perhaps,  a  good  many 
points  to  some.     They  are  a  people  of  very  high  integrity. 

In  the  past,  several  hundred  years  ago,  the  tyranny  and 
rapacity  of  some  of  their  colonial  officers,  it  is  true,  created 
a  widespread  feeling  of  distrust  against  the  nation,  but  when 
we  take  into  consideration  the  wild  and  rough  period  in 
which  they  lived,  the  difficulty  in  dealing  with  native  races 
they  did  not  understand,  and  the  half-superstitious  rehgions 
with  which  their  minds  were  dominated,  is  it  surprising  that 
they  dealt  with  the  semi-civilised  inhabitants  of  those 
Eastern  countries,  where  they  were  endeavouring  to  gain  a 
foothold,  with  severity? 

The  question  is,  however,  were  our  records  at  this  period 
very  much  better  ?  and  were  our  methods  of  a  nature  less 
repugnant,  less  reprehensible,  and  less  repressive  to  the 
princes  and  people  with  whom  we  dealt  ?     I  do  not  think  so. 

1  I  have  known  five  C4overnor-General8,  two  very  closely.  From  the 
last,  His  Excellency  Governor-General  Idenburg,  1  held  two  special 
appointments. 


xii  PREFACE 

Sir  Stamford  Raffles  was  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Java 
from  1811  to  1816,  and  placed  strictm-es  upon  the  Dutch 
which  were  in  many  instances  severe  ;  he  was  undoubtedly 
one  of  the  most  enlightened  statesmen  England  ever  sent 
to  the  East,  and  his  knowledge  of  the  Dutch  Indies  at  that 
period  was  second  to  none  ;  he,  however,  made  it  distinctly 
understood  that  his  observations  were  intended  to  apply 
exclusively  to  the  Dutch  Colonial  Government  and  its 
officers,  and  not  to  the  Dutch  Government  in  Holland, 
whose  instructions  to  the  authorities  at  Batavia  always 
breathed  a  spirit  of  liberality  and  benevolence  ;  and  it  is  a 
fact  that  the  tyranny  of  certain  officers  invariably  brought 
down  the  indignation  of  the  people  in  Holland. 

It  was  on  this  past  and  on  what  happened  in  the  colonisa- 
tion period  that  the  Dutch  nation  has  been  sometimes 
judged  by  those  people  who  have  not  been  in  a  position  to 
give  a  fair  opinion,  and  no  allowance  whatever  has  ever 
been  made  for  the  distrust  and  jealousy  which  existed 
between  the  Portuguese,  English,  and  Dutch,  especially  the 
two  latter,  in  the  East  when  the  great  struggle  was  taking 
place  as  to  w^ho  should  become  the  predominant  factor. 

The  final  and  significant  success  with  which  the  Dutch 
have  managed  and  administered  the  colonies  which  fell  to 
them  is,  however,  to  the  credit  of  that  great  nation,  with 
its  glorious  past  in  Europe. 

Lastly,  I  beg  to  thank  my  accomphshed  and  talented  wife, 
the  friend  who  has  given  me  loyal  and  valuable  support  in 
carrying  out  a  strenuous  and  difficult  task  in  my  position 
in  Java,  Mejonkvrouwe  Mathilde  Marie  Isabelle  Smissaert, 
a  Dutch  lady  of  high  and  distinguished  family. 

I  must  also  acknowledge  my  grateful  thanks  for  assistance 
in  various  ways  from  Colonel  Leith,  Mr.  John  Bonhote, 
and  Mr.  Hubert  Duck. 

I  have  still  only  to  add  that  this  history  has  been  mainly 
brought  out  with  the  special  object  of  supplying  a  long-felt 


PREFACE  xiii 

want  among  my  countrymen  in  Java  and  Sumatra,  who 
desire  some  record  of  what  the  Enghsh  have  done  in  these 
Islands  ;  and  in  giving  them  an  account  with  numerous 
statements  containing  what  I  can  find  regarding  the  various 
Enghshmen  who  were  in  Java  up  to  the  first  quarter  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  together  with  the  reports  some  of  them 
have  left  behind,  I  trust  I  am  conveying  something,  if  not 
altogether  ornamental,  in  any  case  useful. 

Java  has  had  a  great  past,  but  it  has  a  still  greater  future, 
and  before  many  years  have  passed  will  probably  be  promi- 
nently brought  forward  in  the  world,  in  a  manner  which, 
when  the  time  comes,  must  not  be  looked  upon  as  unexpected. 

I  have  to  draw  attention  to  the  perfect  photographs  of 

the  Eoyal  Families  of  the  Susuhunan  of  Surakerta  (the 

rightful  Emperor  of  Java)  and  of  the  Sultan  of  Djockjakerta, 

etc.  ;   these  are  in  so  far  unique  that  they  have  never  been 

made  public  before,  and  few  excepting  the  special  friends 

of  the  Emperor  and  the  Sultan  have  ever  been  privileged 

to  see  them. 

Orthography. 

With  regard  to  the  spelling  of  places  in  this  volume,  it 
must  be  observed  in  Netherlands  India,  as  in  other  Eastern 
countries,  that  there  is  a  strange  diversity  in  their  rendering, 
and  even  official  documents  are  not  always  consistent. 
There  is  the  old  and  ancient  spelling,  the  gwasz-Dutch 
rendering,  and  the  full  Dutch  designation. 

With  perhaps  small  divergencies  my  endeavour  has  been 
to  spell  all  names  of  places  in  this  history  as  they  were  spelt 
at  the  time  of  which  the  particular  accomit  is  being  given. 
Thus  in  the  ancient  portion  the  names  are  spelt  as  they 
were  known  at  that  period,  and  as  rendered  in  old  Hindu- 
Javan  documents,  and  so  on. 


Donald  Maclaine  Campbell. 


Gle.vdo.v,  Kingswood  Road, 
Upper  Norwood,  S.E. 


CONTENTS    OF    VOLUME    I 

PAOE 

Introductory  Note  v- 

Preface  ix 

First  Period. 
Before  the  Arrival  of  the  Mahometans. 

CHAPTER 

I.    Part    I. — The  Ancient  History  of  Java  3 

„      II. — The  Hindu  Period  27 

„    III. — The  Hindu -Javanese  Period  52 

Second  Period. 
Before  the  Arrival  of  the  Europeans. 
II.    Arabian  Intercourse  with  Java  85 

III.  Chinese  Intercourse  v\^ith  Java  132 

Third  Period. 
The  Arrp/al  of  the  Europeans. 

IV.  Java's  First  European  Visitors  145 

The  Dutch  Period  to  1811. 
V.    The  Rise  of  the  Dutch  Power  in  the  East      199 
VI.    The  Dutch  in  Java,  1623  to  1811  230 

The  British  Period. 
VII.    Life  of  Sir  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles  287 

VIII.    The  British  Expedition  to  Java,  1811  325 


xvi  CONTENTS   OF   VOLUME   I 

CHAPTEU  PAGE 

IX.    The    British    Occupation    of    Java    akd    its 

Dependencies,  1811  to  1816  350 


X.     Java  once  more  under  Dutch  Rule,  1816  to 

THE  Present  Day  408 


XI.     The  Towns  in  Java  and  the  Neighbouring 

Lands  451 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 
Vol.  I. 

TO   FACE    PAGE 

The  Author,  Donald  Maclaine  Campbell       .         Frontispiece 

Mrs.  Donald  Maclaine  Campbell     ......  x 

The  Royal  Waringin  Trees  in  the  Aloon  Aloon  at  Jockjakarta  4 

Ruins  of  the  Water-Castle,  Jockjakarta       ....  18 

Dwarfs  of  Djockja          ........  28 

The  Pile-village  of  Moetean  in  the  Java  Inland  Sea  .         .  40 

The  Susuhunan  of  Solo 50 

The  Susuhunan  of  Surakerta,  or  Emperor  of  Java       .         .  68 
Kandjeng   Pangaran   Adipati     Hamangkoe    Negoro    (Eldest 

Son  of  the  Sultan  ;  Crown  Prince) 71 

Kandjeng  Sultan  VII.,  Hamangkoe  Boewono  Senopati  Hinga- 
KALOGO  Sahidin  Panoto  Gomo  Kalif  Patolah,  Sultan  op 

Jockjakarta       .........  80 

Javan  Dignitary      .........  86 

View  of  the  Volcano  of  Oenarang,  from  the  Weir,  Samarang  92 
Group  taken  on  the  Top  of  the  Temple,  Boro  Budur.    The 
Javans  are  the  Regent-Dalem  of  the  Craton  of  Sura- 
kerta ("  Djojonegoro,"   the   Regent's  Son-in-Law),   and 

Servants  of  the  Emperor          ......  104 

The  Great  Buddha  in  the  Chandi  Mendut     ....  114 

The  Kanarie  Lane,  Samarang.         .         .         .         .         .         .114 

The  Pangeran  Poerbonegoro,  with  his  AVife  and  Daughter     .  122 

Wayang  Tjina,  or  Chinese  Play 132 

Opium  Smoker  ..........  138 

Chinese  Roadside  Temple,  Samarang  District         .         .         .  140 

Macao,  1G55 148 

Sir  Francis  Drake.    (The  First  Englishman  to  visit  Java)   .  156 

The  Ceremony  of  Ducking  under  the  Tropics        .         .         .  164 

Kanton,  1655 172 

The  Volcano  of  Bromo    ........  182 

Kandjeng  Pangeran  Ario  Tjokro  Nagero  (Lieutenant-Colonel 

IN  THE  Cavalry  ;  Officer  in  the  Orange  Nassau  Order)  .  192 

The  Roads  and  Town  op  Batavia,  1655 200 

Road  to  Tjipanas  Garoet 206 

The   Volcano   of   Salak.     (From   the    Hotel   "  Belle    Vue," 

Buitenzorg) 206 


xviii  LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

TO  FACE  PAGE 

Sanatorium  at  Lendanglaya    .         .         .         .         .         ,         .210 

Javan  Lady      ..........     220 

The  Torments  inflicted  by  the  Dutch  on  the  English  in 

Amboyna    ..........     230 

The  Condition  of  the  English  in  the  Dungeon  and  their 

Execution  (Amboyna)         .......     230 

(/     A  View  of  the  City  of  Batavia,  1650 238 

Old  Private  Burial  Ground  at  Gergadju  Hill,  Samarang      .     246 
The  Old  Town  Hall,  Batavia.     (It  is  not  much  changed  since 

its  Erection  in  the  Seventeenth  Century)      .         .         .     254 
River  and  Storehouses  at  Pekalongan  .....     254 

View  of  the  Salak  .........     262 

Tjipanas  Garoet       .........     262 

Four  Portraits  :  Kandjeng  Pangaran  Ario  Joedo  Negoro 
(Adopted  Son  of  the  Sultan)  ;  Kandjeng  Pangaran  Ario 
Adi  Negoro  (Son  of  the  Sultan  by  a  Secondary  V/ife)  ; 
Goesti  Pangaran  Ario  Boemi  Noto  (Brother  to  the 
Sultan)  ;  Goesti  Pangaran  Adipati  Manghoe  Boemi 
(Brother    to   the    Sultan  ;     Colonel-Adjutant    to    the 

Governor-General)  . 268 

288 
292 
292 
296 
306 
306 
312 
312 


Sir  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles  ..... 

Fort  Taggal  (Tegal),  1811.     (British  Flag  is  flying)     . 

Fort  Cheribon,  1811 

Javan  Coins  under  the  British  Occupation  (1811—1816) 

The  Cantonments,  Tangsi 

Plassen  Passar,  or  Market,  at  Tjilatjap 

The  River  Osso 

Officers'  Quarters 

Graves  of  Lady  Raffles  and  Madame  Rochussen  in  the  Bamboo 

Wood  of  the  Governor-General's  Park  at  Buitenzorg  .     318 
Bridge  over  the  River  Tjilewong  at  Batavia  between  Pegan- 

SAAN  AND  MeESTER  CoRNELIS,  WHERE  THE  GrEAT  BaTTLE  WAS 

fought  between  English,  French  and  Dutch  Troops  on 

August  26th,  1811 326 

The  Sources  of  the  Tjilewong  River 326 

Tjibodas,  with  the  Gedeh  and  Pangerango  Volcanoes  in  the 

Distance    ..........     328 

Maclean's  Grave 3S0 

Departure  of  the  British  Expedition  from  the  High  Islands, 

July,  1811  .         .         . 334 

Old  Dutch  Church,  Samarang 338 

GuNONG   Salak,   near  Buitenzorg,   and   the    River   Chidami, 

1811 342 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS  xix 

TO    FACE   PAGE 

The  Resident's  House,  Pasoeroean  .....     348 

The  Kaxarie  Lane  at  Tjilatjap      ......     348 

Fort  Japara,  1811.     (British  Flag  is  flying).         .         .         .     352 

Fort  Salatiga,  1811 352 

The   Resident's   Office   at   Tawang,    Samarang,   during   the 

English  Period.  (Built  about  1775)  .  .  .  .  360 
British  Officers'  Quarters,  Samarang  (in  District  of  Tawang), 

1811 — 1816.  (These  Quarters  were  built  about  1775)  .  360 
Samarang  from  the  Land  Side.  (The  British  Flag  is  flying)  370 
Graves  of  the  British  killed  after  the  Riot  at  Probolingo, 

June  18th,  1813 380 

Fort  Joana,  1811 386 

Fort  Damack  (Demak),  1811.     (The  British  Flag  is  flying)      .     386 

Grejsie 392 

Fort  Rambang,  1811 392 

The  Sultan  of  Jockjakarta  going  in  Procession  from  the 

Craton  to  Siti  Inggil  at  the  Garebeg  Festival  .  .  410 
The  Resident's  House  at  .Jockjakarta  .....  410 
Palace  of  the  Governor-General  at  Buitenzorg  .  .  .  414 
Governor-General's  Palace,  Ryswyk,  Batavia  .  .  .  414 
Umbrella,  Lance-carriers  and  Servants  of  the  Emperor  of 

Java  .         .         . 420 

Pangeran    Praboenengrat    (Surakarta),    Brother     to    the 

Susuhunan  .........     424 

His  Highness  the  Prince  IWangkoe  Negero  VL       .         .         .     430 
Raden  Ajoi  Adipati  Hajlangkoe  Negoro,  Wife  of  the  Crown 

Prince 436 

Toewan  Ratoe  Kentjono,  Wife  of  the  Sultan       .         .         .     440 
Pangeran    Hario    Poersanagoro     (Colonel-Commandant    of 

THE  Army  of  the  Susuhunan  of  Solo)  ....  444 
Pangeran  Adipati  Soeriodilogo  Prins  Pakoe-Alim  VIL  .  .  452 
Four  Portraits  :  Goesti  Pangaran  Hario  Poerbojo  (Son  of 
the  Sultan  ;  Youngest  Brother  of  the  Crown  Prince)  ; 
Kandjeng  Pangaran  Adipati  Hanga  Bey  (The  Sultan's 
Eldest  Son)  ;  Goesti  Pangaran  Ario  Soerio  Poetro 
(Brother    to    the    Sultan)  ;    Kandjeng    Raden   Adipati 

Danoeredjo  (Ruler  of  Djoejn) 466 

Four  Portraits  :  Kandjeng  Pangaran  Hario  Adi  Soerio 
(Son  of  the  Sultan  by  a  Secondary  VriFE) ;  Goesti 
Pangaran  Hario  Ted  jo  Koesoemo  (Son  of  the  Sultan 
AND  the  Ratu)  ;  Kandjeng  Pangaran  Ario  Soerio  Di 
NiGRAT  (Son  of  the  Sultan)  ;  Kandjeng  Pangaran 
Pahoe  Ningrat  (Son  of  the  Sultan  by  a  Secondary  Wife)    484 


XX  LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

TO   FACE   PAGE 

Four  Portraits  :  Kandjeng  Pangaran  Hario  Soerio  Widjojo 
(Son  of  the  Sultan  by  a  Secondary  Wife)  ;  Kandjeng 
Pangaran  Hario  Soerio  Bronto  (Son  of  the  Sultan 
BY  A  Secondary  Wife)  ;  Goesti  Pangaran  Ario  Poeger 
(Brother  to  the  Sultan  ;  Major  on  the  General  Staff)  ; 
Goesti    Pangaran   Ario   Mangkoe    Koesomo  (Son  of  the 

Sultan) 498 

Post  Office,  Samarang     ........     520 

Harbour  of  Tegal,  1911 540 

Looking   down   Bodjong   Road,    Samarang,   from   Resident's 

Offices  (on  left)       ........     558 

Resident's  Offices,  Samarang 580 

View  of  Gunong  Gidi  and  the  River  Chiliwang  from  the 

Garden  at  Buitenzorg,  1811 590 

Javan  Lady  from  Jockjakarta 600 

Market  at  Tjilatjah 620 

Street  in  Samarang,  showing  Church       .....     620 
Pendrian,  Samarang         ........     628 

Roman  Catholic  Church,  Pasoeroean 646 

Protestant  Church,  Pasoeroean     ......     646 

Part  of  Samarang,  1900 652 


FIRST    PERIOD 

Before   the   Arrival   of  the   Mahometans 


J. — VOL    I  B 


CHAPTER  I 

Part  I 

The  Ancient  History  of  Java 

from  the  earliest  traditions  to   the   commencement 

OF    THE    HINDU   PERIOD,    ANNO    JAVAN    1    (a.D.    75). 

Introduction. — Although  not  a  few  of  us  in  these  islands 
have  probably  heard  at  some  time  or  other  that  there  is 
such  a  place  as  Java,  how  many  of  us  have  any  knowledge 
of  its  exact,  or  even  approximate,  geographical  position, 
or  of  its  extent,  importance,  and  population  ?  I  am  pre- 
pared to  say  there  are  not  many.  It  is  true  nevertheless 
that  Java  is  the  most  important  island,  not  only  in  the 
East  Indian  Archipelago,  but  in  the  world. 

The  Paradise  of  the  World.- — Its  climate,  too,  away  from 
the  sultry  ports,  and  from  a  height  of  1,500  feet  upwards, 
is  quite  incomparable  ;  and  this,  taken  with  the  fascination 
of  its  charming  folk,  has  caused  many  to  designate  it  as 
the  Paradise  of  the  Earth.  Certainly,  if  ever  there  was  a 
Garden  of  Dehght,  the  region  of  Java,  in  regard  to  its 
beauty  and  climate,  may,  I  think,  lay  a  very  good  claim  to 
be  such  a  place.  The  climate  is  one  of  perpetual  and 
unending  summer,  where  the  wants  of  man  are  liberally 
supplied  without  stint  by  an  ever  bounteous  Nature,  and 
where  neither  covering  nor  house  is  required.  It  strikes 
the  stranger  or  traveller  as  a  gorgeous  and  magnificent 
garden  of  superlative  and  miparalleled  luxuriance,  sur- 
passing Brazil,  Jamaica,  Formosa,  Borneo,  or  New  Zealand. 
or  even,  as  some  say,  the  whole  of  these  combined. 

It  is  certainly  a  land  in  which  the  forests  are  adorned 
with  an  everlasting  green,  a  land  of  thousands  of  lovely 

B   2 


4  JAVA 

variegated  birds,  and  one  whose  numberless  thousands  of 
bright  and  strikingly  coloured  flowers  lend  to  it  an  over- 
powering and  undying  sweetness  and  perfume. 

It  is,  moreover,  a  land  where  the  student  of  Nature  can 
live  amidst  all  that  is  dear  to  him.  Alone  on  the  mountain- 
sides, under  a  clear  blue  sky,  he  finds  his  imagination 
running  riot  ;  he  hears  the  sea  wind,  gentle  but  penetratmg, 
rushing  through  the  banana  trees  and  the  tops  of  the  lofty 
palms,  and  he  can  hear  the  thundering  and  deeply  echoing 
roar  of  the  numberless  waterfalls  which  rush  down  the  great 
mountains  in  the  interior  of  the  island. 

Java,  to  use  a  well-worn  phrase,  is  without  a  doubt  the 
peerless  gem  in  that  magnificent  empire  of  Insulindia 
which  twists  and  winds  about  the  Equator  like  a  chaplet 
of  emeralds. 

Many  say  that  it  is  the  ideal  of  all  tropical  lands,  and  that 
it  is  the  greenest,  the  most  beautiful,  the  sweetest,  and  the 
most  exquisite  spot  to  be  found  anywhere.  It  is,  therefore, 
no  matter  for  surprise  to  hear  it  described  as  "  The  Wonder- 
land," "  The  Fairy  Land,"  "  The  Paradise  of  the  World."  ^ 

Java's  resources  in  objects  of  interest  are  manifold,  and 
I  do  not  think  it  would  be  possible  to  find  the  man  who 
cannot  come  upon  something  here  to  his  taste  or  liking. 
Should  he  be  an  admirer  or  a  student  of  art,  delighting  in 
Eastern  peoples  or  ancient  civilisations,  he  can  spend  months, 
even  years,  in  exploring  the  world-famed  ruined  Hindu 
temples  of  Boro  Budur,^  Prambanau,  Tjandi  Sewu,  and 
the  remains  of  the  ancient  holy  city  in  the  Dieng  mountains. 
Should  he  take  an  interest  in  the  social  conditions  and 

1  Dr.  H.  C.  Bryant,  the  Secretary  of  the  American  Alpine  Club,  when 
speaking  of  his  experiences  in  Java  at  a  meeting  of  the  Appalachian 
Mountain  Club,  said  :  "  It  is  from  the  popular  point  of  view  a  terra  incognita, 
but  if  anyone  should  ask  me  as  to  the  most  beautiful  place  in  the  world  I 
8aw  in  my  trip  round  the  earth,  I  should  unhesitatingly  name  this  island." 
All  writers  say  the  same.    I  have  never  seen  any  opinion  otlier  tlian  thi?. 

*  Bara  Budur. 


THE   ANCIENT    HISTORY   OF   JAVA         5 

customs  of  primitive  peoples,  he  will  find  in  Java  an  almost 
inexhaustible  mine :  there  are  the  Javan  villages  of  Mid- Java, 
the  Sunda  and  Malay  campongs  of  West  Java,  the  Hindu 
settlement  6,500  feet  in  the  mountains  at  Tosari,  the 
Arabian  villages  near  Pasoeroean,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
numerous  and  widely  spread  Chinese  communities  in  every 
httle  town  and  village.  Should  he  desire  to  study  the  poli- 
tical problems  that  invariably  result  from  colonial  posses- 
sions, he  will  find  in  Java  in  full  working  perhaps  the  most 
wonderful  and  successful  system  that  human  ingenuity 
has  devised,  a  system  invented  by  the  Hindus,  whereby 
the  Dutch  with  their  intelligent  and  tactful  Residents 
govern  a  subject  race  of  close  on  thirty-five  millions,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  their  o\\ti  Rajahs  (called  Bopatis  or 
Regents),  with  seldom  a  hitch  occurring  of  any  kind. 
Should  he  be  a  sportsman,  he  can  have  excellent  big  game 
shooting,  tigers  being  plentiful  in  East  Java  ;  whilst  wild 
buffaloes  (banteng)  are  to  be  found  in  West  and  South 
Java.  Should  he  prefer  lighter  sport,  wild  deer,  wild  boar, 
and  other  small  game  are  innumerable  everywhere.  Should 
he  be  a  geologist,  he  will  at  once  become  enthusiastic  over 
the  majestic  chain  of  volcanoes  which  stretches  like  a  mon- 
strous backbone  through  the  centre  of  the  island  from 
east  to  west,  providing  an  unrivalled  number  of  craters 
for  the  investigation  of  the  scientist.  Should  he  be  a 
botanist,  here  he  has  at  his  feet  when  he  arrives  the  largest 
and  the  most  famous  botanical  garden  in  the  world  at 
Buitenzorg,  containing  thousands  of  species  of  plants  and 
trees  of  all  descriptions.  Should  he  be  a  lover  of  Nature, 
everywhere  where  he  goes  in  Java  he  has  scenery  so  grand 
and  of  such  unsurpassable  beauty  that  no  pen  can  describe 
it.  Finalty,  the  traveller  will  find  in  Java  a  civilised  land 
with  considerable  luxury,  with  splendid  hotels,  excellent 
railways  and  tramways,  and  fine  motoring  roads  throughout 
the  island. 


6  JAVA 

The  Island  of  Java. — The  island  of  Java,  which  may  with 
justice  be  considered  as  the  most  precious  jewel  in  the 
diadem  of  the  Dutch,  is — with  the  exception  of  Sumatra 
and  Borneo — the  largest  island  in  the  East  Indian  Archi- 
pelago. It  is  668  miles  long,  with  an  area  of  50,798  square 
miles,  and  a  population  of  31,000,000,  or  595  inhabitants 
per  square  mile.^  It  has  a  greatest  breadth  of  124  miles, 
which  diminishes  to  37  miles  at  its  narrowest. 

Situation. — Java  is  situated  between  6°  north  and  11° 
south  latitude,  and  95°  and  141°  east  longitude.  On  the 
south  and  west  its  shores  are  washed  by  the  balmy  southern 
Indian  Ocean  ;  to  the  north-west  lies  the  island  of  Sumatra  ; 
slightly  east  of  north  is  Borneo  ;  to  the  north-east  lies  the 
island  of  Celebes,  and  to  the  east  the  island  of  Bah,  from 
which  it  is  separated  by  a  narrow  passage  called  the  Straits 
of  Bali. 

Java  constitutes  with  Sumatra,  Borneo,  and  Celebes, 
what  is  generally  called  the  Sunda  group  of  islands,  which 
are  richer  in  gold,  silver,  diamonds,  and  other  precious 
metals  than  either  Mexico  or  Peru,  and  are  without  doubt 
the  "  Taprobana  "  of  the  ancients,  the  "  Soles  of  the  Gen- 
tiles," and  the  "  Sacred  Islands  of  the  Hindus." 

The  numerous  islands  south  of  the  Philippines  all  belong 
to  the  Dutch,  forming  an  estate  twelve  times  the  size  of 
England.  The  inhabitants,  the  languages,  the  flora,  the 
fauna,  and  the  geological  formation  all  point  to  one  con- 
clusion, namely,  that  they  are  the  remaining  highlands 
of  a  vast  and  extensive  continent  uniting  x\ustralia  to 
Asia. 

It  must  be  concluded  that  the  Australian  continent 
separated  long  before  the  islands  were  formed  and  separated 
from  the  Asiatic  portion.  This  is  concluded  from  the  fact 
that  the  sea  about  Sumatra,  Java,  Borneo,  and  the  Malay 

'  The  whole  of  Netherlands  East  India  covers  an  area  of  587,370 
square  miles,  and  has  a  population  of  40,500,000. 


THE   ANCIENT    HISTORY    OF   JAVA        7 

Peninsula,  and  that  between  Australia  and  New  Guinea 
and  the  other  islands  to  the  north-east,  are  not  nearly  so 
deep  as  the  channel  which  divides  these  two  groups  and  the 
sea  to  the  east  of  the  Phihppines,  Celebes,  and  Sumbawa. 
The  difference  ranges  from  50  to  1,000  fathoms,  and  this 
may  be  taken  as  conclusive  enough  for  the  argument  ;  if, 
however,  fm-ther  evidence  is  required,  this  is  immediately 
given  us  by  the  difference  existing  between  the  inhabitants 
of  the  two  divisions,  those  in  the  west  being  Malayan  and 
the  others  Papuan/ 

The  Origin  of  the  Ancient  Inhabitants. — A  subject  that 
has  engaged  the  attention  of  many  wi'iters  and  numerous 
Dutch  scholars  is  the  question  of  the  origin  of  the  ancient 
inhabitants  of  Java.  Some  writers  have,  of  course, 
attempted  a  solution  by  studying  the  Javans  of  the  present 
day,  and  conclude  from  their  appearance  that  they  have 
come  from  one  or  another  great  stock.  These  conclusions, 
although  they  may  be  right  so  far  as  the  present  Javans 
are  concerned,  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  question  of  the 
original  inhabitants  of  Java,  and  are  irrelevant  to  it. 
Others  again  with  a  deeper  knowledge  have  endeavoured 
to  reach  a  conclusion  by  inferences  dra'svn  from  the  language, 
from  the  customs,  and  from  the  facial  and  general  physical 
characters  of  the  Javan  people.  These  also  are  beside 
the  point.  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  for  instance,  a  great 
authority,  writes  in  his  "  History  of  Java  "  :  "  The  inhabi- 
tants of  Java  seem  to  owe  their  origin  to  the  same  stock 
from  which  most  of  the  islands  lying  to  the  south  of  the 
eastern  peninsula  of  Asia  appear  to  have  been  first  peopled. 
This  stock  is  evidently  Tartar."  Sir  Stamford  refers  here, 
of  course,  to  the  Javan  folk  of  his  day,  not  to  the  original 
inhabitants,   and  since  then  much  has  been  discovered. 

1  Edward  Clodd  writes  in  "  The  Story  of  Creation "  :  "  Australia 
contains  only  the  lowest  mammals,  a  duckbill  and  kangaroos,  witnessing 
to  its  severance  from  Asia  duriag  the  secondary  epoch." 


8  JAVA 

Prehistoric  stone  implements,  hatchets,  and  spear  heads 
have  been  from  time  to  time  discovered  several  feet  below 
the  sm'face  in  the  Preanger  and  other  districts  in  Java, 
and  in  the  smTomiding  islands.  This  indicates  a  stone  age 
of  great  antiquity.  Then  there  has  been  found  among 
fossil  remains  near  Madiven  the  celebrated  "  human 
monkey  "  or  "  fossil  man,"  Pithecanthropus  erectus,  said 
by  German  anthropologists  to  be  human,  or  at  least  the 
"  missing  link."  This  was  discovered  at  a  considerable 
depth,  and  the  age  assigned  to  the  remains  carries  us  back 
to  the  Pliocene,  or  at  least  to  the  early  Pleistocene  period. 
As  this  being  when  erect  stood,  according  to  Mr.  Beddard, 
5  feet  6  inches  high,  and  the  contents  of  its  cranium  were 
1,000  cm.,  that  is  400  cm.  more  than  the  cranial  capacity 
of  anj^  anthropoid  ape,  and  fully  as  great  as  or  even  a  trifle 
greater  than  the  cranial  capacity  of  some  female  Australians, 
Veddahs,  and  Semangs,  it  may  well  be,  if  not,  as  Professor 
Haeckel  insists  on  calling  it,  '*  the  commencement  of 
humanity,"  in  any  case  the  progenitor  of  the  original 
inhabitants  of  Java,  who  would  be  a  lov/  race  of  men 
materially  and  far  more  primitive  than  any  race  that 
exists  to-day. 

The  original  inhabitants  may,  therefore,  have  been 
autochthonous  in  the  East  Indies.  If  the  conclusions  of 
Professor  Haeckel  and  the  other  distinguished  men  who 
examined  the  remains,  as  set  forth  in  the  note  at  the  end 
of  this  chapter,  are  correct,  they  seem  to  point  to  the  fact 
that  these  autochthonous  inhabitants  of  Java  were  already 
in  the  land  when  the  physical  geography  of  the  Australian 
and  Asiatic  continents  must  have  been  very  different  from 
what  it  is  now. 

The  Aborigines. — From  this  autochthonous  race  may, 
therefore,  have  descended  the  people  of  Java  known  as 
Kalang  (Avild  devils),  called  by  the  first  Hindu  invaders 
Bdsaka.     In  several  parts  of  India,  on  the  borders  of  the 


THE   ANCIENT    HISTORY   OF   JAVA         9 

forests,  the  natives  of  the  present  day  still  believe  in  the 
power  and  might  of  a  demon  knoTVTi  as  the  RaksJia  and  fear 
him  accordingly  ;  doubtless  this  name  for  the  Kalang  thus 
originated/ 

These  Kalang  did  not  become  extinct  in  Java  mitil  well 
into  the  Hindu  period.^  They  were,  of  course,  as  Adolf 
Bernhard  Meyer  in  "  Die  Kalangs  auf  Java"  shows, negritos, 
and,  like  the  rest  of  these  scattered  oceanic  negiitos,  the 
mere  sm'vivors  of  a  former  widespread  autochthonous  race, 
which  had  lived  in  inaccessible  parts,  like  the  present-day 
negritos  of  the  Philippines,  Borneo,  New  Guinea,  and 
Tasmania  (till  lately),^  the  beddahs  of  Ceylon,  the  Andaman 

*  The  Eaksha  has  been  described  as  a  terrible  creature  with  eyes  set 
obliquely  in  the  head,  ugly,  broad,  bulky,  misshapen,  and  with  ten-ible 
teeth.  It  haunts  only  the  forests  and  the  tops  of  hills,  and  was  said  to  be 
given  to  decoying  children  and  solitary  women.  It  had  also  a  teirible 
cry,  which  is  notewoithy  as  corresponding  with  the  cry  of  the  ancient 
Javan,  who  had  a  mustering  call  or  shriek  in  the  dense  forests  of  Java. 
Miss  Mary  Frere  in  her  book  "Old  Deccan  Days  in  Hindu  Fairy  Tales"* 
mentions  this  superstition  as  still  existing  in  Scinde,  where,  however,  the 
demon  is  not  known  as  Raksha,  but  Djinn.  We  learn  from  Parker's  valuable 
book  on  "  Ancient  Ceylon  "  that  when  the  first  Aryan  invaders  entered 
India  they  brought  with  them  an  exaggerated  belief  in  the  existence  of 
various  classes  of  evil  beings,  among  whom  those  termed  BaJcshasa  occupied 
the  leading  place.  ^Mien  the  Indian  epic  poem  the  Eamayana  was  com- 
posed, the  EaJcshasa  had  developed  into  beings  who  constantly  made  theii* 
appearance  before  men.  They  were  first  described  as  wandering  malignant 
demons  of  the  great  Vindhya  forest,  which  extended  far  to  the  south  of 
India,  and  in  the  later  portions  of  that  work  they  were  represented  a-s 
occupying  Ceylon.  It  is  clear  from  all  this,  therefore,  that  they  were 
wild  men — so  wild,  that  by  those  others  of  the  human  race  who  had  become 
more  civilised  they  were  looked  upon  as  demons,  or  semi-demons,  who 
only  came  out  by  night  ;  for,  as  Parker  tells  us,  "  these  demons  were  thought 
to  be  specially  active  and  powerful  during  the  darkness  of  the  night." 
The  ordinances  of  Manu  confirm  the  statement  that  the  Eakshasa  were 
flesh-eating  demons  and  that  night  was  the  special  time  for  their  activity. 
If  this  wild  autochthonous  race  did  not  arise  in  India,  it  is  certain  it  did 
so  in  the  East  Indies,  and  the  greater  probability  lies  Tvith  the  latter 
alternative.     Apparently  they  were  originally  more  monkey  than  man. 

*  A  few  of  the  Kalang  existed  even  later. 

'  C.  R.  Enock,  F.R.C.S.,  says  :  "  The  black  woolly-haired  races  were  the 
first  inhabitants  of  the  Malay  Archipelago,  which  doubtless  has  been  divided 
into  islands  during  the  human  period."  The  recently  extinct  Tasmanians 


10  JAVA 

Islanders,  and  the  Semangs  of  the  Malay  Peninsula/  Their 
preservation  in  all  these  islands  is  due  entirely  to  their 
isolation,  caused  by  a  subsidence  of  parts  of  a  former 
continent ;  whilst  the  extinction  of  this  race  in  Java  was 
due  to  its  early  discovery  and  colonisation  by  other  races 
who  brought  a  higher  culture  with  them. 

The  question  that  now  arises  is.  To  which  of  the  great 
divisions  of  the  human  family  must  this  older  stock  be 
assigned  ?  This  is  a  difficult  problem,  but  this  much  may 
^vith  safety,  even  with  certainty,  be  asserted  :  it  was  not 
Mongolian  or  Ethiopic  ;  therefore  it  must  have  been  Cau- 
casian. 

In  features  they  were  probably  bullet-headed  with  square 
faces  and  exceedingly  heavy  jaws  ;  the  ancestor  was  pro- 
bably a  man  of  very  low  stature  with  beetling  brows. 
Their  nose  w^as  very  broad  at  the  nostrils,  and  they  had 
frizzled  woolly  hair.  Their  food  consisted  of  wild  natural 
products,  that  is,  fruits  and  roots  of  plants,  and  wild 
animals  of  all  kinds.  They  w^ere  apparently  all  fishers  and 
hunters,  but  they  were  ignorant  of  agriculture  and  cattle- 
breeding.  Their  implements  and  weapons  were  of  stone, 
and  they  lived  isolated,  rude  lives,  scattered  in  small  groups 
of  probably  ten  to  forty  persons.  They  had  no  fixed  home, 
but  lived  in  the  forests  and  caverns,  wandering  about  naked 
from  one  place  to  another.  There  was,  of  course,  no 
restraint  among  them  or  established  order,  although  a 
certain  respect  for  age  took  the  place  of  civil  obedience. 
AVhen  the  crop  of  wild  millet  was  gathered,  the  elder  decided 
when  and  where  the  horde  should  next  move.  Before 
departing  they  feasted  and  offered  sacrifices  in  an  open 

were  of  tlxis  race — people  wlio,  according  to  Haddon  in  ".The  Wanderings 
of  Peoples,"  "  walked  from  New  Guinea  to  Tasmania." 

^  The  Malay  Peninsula,  i.e.,  the  lower  part  of  it,  has  been  held  by  many 
to  have  once  been  an  island.  This  would  be  a  reaso  i  why  the  Semang, 
or  brothers  of  the  Javan  Kalang,  have  been  preserved  down  to  the  jjresent 
day. 


THE   ANCIENT    HISTORY   OF   JAVA       11 

plain,  attracting  to  the  remains  of  their  repast  the  bird 
called  ulung-gdga,^  and  the  yoimg  men  would  shake  a 
rude  musical  instrument  (still  to  be  heard  in  the  Sunda 
district  and  at  Garoet,  in  the  Preanger)  called  the  dngklung, 
shouting  and  dancing  to  its  accompaniment  in  a  wild, 
ludicrous,  and  aimless  fashion,  and  becoming  at  last  mad 
with  its  sounds.^  When  the  bird  would  not  eat  of  the  meal 
offered,  their  departure  was  delayed  and  their  sacrifices 
and  prayers  renewed,  but  if  the  bird  ate  and  flew  in  the 
direction  of  their  intended  journey,  a  lamb  or  kid  was 
slain  and  burnt  as  a  thank-offering  to  the  deity .^  In  case 
of  favourable  omen  *  another  feast  was  partaken  of,  which 
ended  in  further  violent  exhibitions  or  demonstrations  of 
joy,  in  which  the  dngklung  played  a  prominent  part.  When 
all  was  ready  for  the  journey,  the  oldest  man  of  the  horde 
with  his  wife  and  children  either  was  placed  upon  an  elephant 
or  was  carried  in  a  rough  litter,  and  began  to  move  in  the 
direction  he  had  indicated  ;  the  rest  moved  on  foot  behind 
him.  Preceding  the  horde  were  the  young  men  and  boys 
shaking  the  dngklung  and  shouting  aloud,  for  the  twofold 
purpose  of  rendering  the  necessary  homage  to  their  chief 

^  Supposed  to  have  been  a  crow  or  raven. 

2  The  manner  in  which  the  mountaineers  of  the  Sunda  districts  still 
spring  and  shout  to  the  sovm.d  of  the  dngklung  corresponds  with  the  above 
account.  On  occasions  of  pubUc  rejoicings  in  the  eastern  extremities  of 
the  island  a  party  of  wild  men  was  fiequeutly  introduced,  who  with 
dishevelled  hair  and  covered  with  leaves,  while  shaking  the  dngklung, 
shouted,  sprang,  and  distorted  their  limbs  in  the  rudest  manner,  the  object 
being  to  exhibit  the  original  inhabitants,  in  contrast  with  what  they 
have  become  through  civilisation. 

'^  The  same  as  the  peace  offerings  of  Egypt. 

*  The  Dayaks  of  Borneo  still  hold  particular  kinds  of  biids  holy,  and 
draw  omens  from  their  flight.  Before  they  enter  on  a  journey  or  engage 
in  war,  they  invite  the  approach  of  these  birds  by  screaming  songs  and 
scattering  rice.  If  these  birds  take  their  flight  in  the  direction  they  wish 
to  go,  it  is  regarded  as  a  favourable  omen,  but  if  they  take  another  direction, 
they  consider  it  as  unfavourable  and  delay  the  business  until  the  omens 
are  more  suitable  to  their  wishes. — '•  Transactions  of  the  Batavia  Society 
of  Arts  and  Sciences,"  Vol.  VII. 


12  JAVA 

and  of  frightening  away  the  wild  beasts  which  abounded 
all  over  the  island  in  countless  multitudes  at  that  period.^ 

Their  various  modes  of  worship  and  their  beliefs  were  of 
a  simple  nature,  although  it  has  been  said  that  these  had 
as  their  basis  considerably  higher  forms .^  Some  worshipped 
the  san  (as  was  common  in  Egypt  in  early  times),  others 
the  moon  ;  some  worshipped  fire  or  water,  or  the  trees  of 
the  forests.  Like  all  the  early  races  of  Egypt  and  Baby- 
lonia, they  practised  the  arts  of  divination  and  of  astrology. 
This  may,  however,  have  been  later,  after  contact  with 
other  people,  for  at  the  first  beginnings  their  powers  of 
reason  must  have  been  most  primitive,  in  fact  not  far 
removed  from  those  of  the  anthropoid  ape,  and  not  much 
superior  to  those  of  the  lower  animals  with  whom  they 
shared  the  forest,  the  mountains,  and  dales. 

If  their  ancestors  were  not  autochthonous,  where  did 
these  come  from  ?  For,  as  already  observed,  they  must 
have  been .  in  the  archipelago  when  the  country  formed 
part  of  the  Australian  and  Asiatic  continents.  If  they  did 
arrive  later,  then  it  would  have  been  by  water,  in  which 
case  they  would  have  had  a  little  knowledge,  however 
small,  of  the  art  of  paddling  canoes  or  rafts.  This  art, 
however,  they  never  appear  to  have  had,  which  is  more  or 
less  proof  that  they  did  not  arrive  by  sea,  for  they  would 
never  have  lost  this  knowledge.  There  is,  as  far  as  I  am 
aware,  no  evidence  of  any  islanders  having  degenerated  to 
this  extent.  Whether  in  Java  itself  they  were  ever  in  very 
great  numbers  it  is  impossible  to  say,  but  that  these  Kalang 
or  Baksha  existed    there  is  no  doubt  whatever ;    in   fact, 

1  Even  at  the  present  day  no  native  ever  thinks  of  entering  a  forest  before 
shouting,  and  his  journey  is  made  to  the  accompaniment  of  wild  yells 
uttered  from  time  to  time. 

2  C.  Reginald  Enock,  in  "  The  Secret  of  the  Pacific,"  -writes  :  "  A  mixture 
of  Proto-Malayans  with  Indonesians,  whom  we  may  well  call  Proto- 
Polynesians,  drifted  into  the  West  Pacific  and  gave  the  black  woolly- 
haired  natives  their  language  and  some  elements  of  higher  culture." 


THE   ANCIENT   HISTORY   OF   JAVA       13 

until  the  sixteenth  and  even  the  seventeenth  centuries  they 
were  in  fair  numbers.^  After  this,  however,  they  gradually 
died  out,  although  here  and  there  in  the  island  there  are 
still  signs  in  bastard  negritos  of  their  previous  existence. 
Civihsation  killed  them  in  Java,  as  in  Tasmania  and  else- 
where it  has  exterminated  the  indigenous  races.  This 
ancient  race  of  primitive  man  must  have  lived  alone  in  the 
archipelago  and  the  island  of  Java  undisturbed  throughout 
untold  centuries  until  people  of  another  race  visited  and 
later  on  invaded  the  country.  The  Kalang  may,  I  suppose, 
also  have  been  related  to  the  original  or  indigenous  race 
called  Kedda  in  Southern  India  ;  for,  as  is  well  known, 
long  before  Hindustan  was  thickly  populated,  say  anywhere 
from  B.C.  3000  to  2500,  whilst  the  Aryan  family  or  tribe 
in  the  north  was  still  in  obscmity,  the  country  was  already 
in  some  parts  peopled  by  a  savage  race  which,  while  with 
the  rudiments  of  a  religion  acknowledging  a  power  above, 
was  more  or  less  given  over  to  barbarism.  Some  of 
these  aborigines  were  in  Ceylon,  which  at  that  time  still 
formed  a  portion  of  the  Indian  continent.  Here,  it  may 
incidentally  be  observed,  in  the  course  of  time  they  were 
visited  by  members  of  other  peoples,  some  of  whom  pro- 
bably remained  in  the  land  and  partially  civihsed  it.  This 
we  know  from  the  ancient  Vedas,  or  Hindu  histories,  which 
relate  the  story  of  the  celebrated  Wijaya  ^  from  Bengal, 
who  landed  there  in  B.C.  543,  and  found  a  civihsed  com- 
munity which  could  trace  its  antiquity  for  six  or  seven 
centuries.  Besides  this  there  is  every  evidence  in  the 
Mahavansa,  or  the  History  of  the  great  Dynasty  of  Ceylon, 
to  show  that  there  was  a  pre- Aryan  colonisation  of  this 
country  which  was  contemporaneous  with  the  colonisation 
of  Southern  India  about  b.c.  2000  to  1500  ;    and  minute 

'  See  also  "  De  Kalangers,"  by  E.  Ketjen. 

2  Wijaya  was  a  Hindu  who  rose  into  promiaence  through  marrying  the 
daughter  of  a  powerful  T.Iaharaja. 


U  JAVA 

accounts  of  warfare  and  life  in  Ceylon  are  given  as  far  back 
as  B.C.  1250. 

The  Origm  of  the  Present  Inhabitants. — The  present  people 
of  Java  owe  their  origin  in  the  main  to  the  same  stock  from 
which  Sumatra,  Borneo,  and  most  of  the  islands  to  the 
south  of  the  Malay  Peninsula  were  at  an  early  date  popu- 
lated. This  stock  was  probably  a  Tartar  one,  if  we  accept 
the  general  opinion.  Doubtful,  however,  as  this  question 
must  remain,  one  thing  is  quite  certain,  namely,  that  the 
elements  which  have  tended  to  modify  and  alter  this 
original  stock  are  Egyptian,  Hindu,  Kling,  Tartar,  Arabian, 
and  Chinese,  which  there  appears  to  be  ample  proof  were 
introduced  at  one  time  or  another  into  the  archipelago. 

I  must  add  that  it  has  been  suggested  by  some  writers 
that  at  an  early  date  a  mixed  race,  originally  coming  from 
Ceylon  or  Southern  India,  was  the  first  to  visit  the  Eastern 
Archipelago  ;  but  this  idea  must,  I  think,  be  laid  aside  as 
erroneous,  and  will  probably  be  found  to  have  been  based 
upon  a  misapprehension  of  facts,  and  due  to  a  confusion 
with  a  migration  to  Java  from  these  parts  at  or  about  the 
time  of  the  Christian  era.  It  is  true  that  the  renowned 
traveller  Kaerupfer  writes  in  his  great  history  of  Japan  : 
**  Before  Christ  1,027  years,  upon  the  eighth  day  of  the 
fourth  month,  was  born  in  India  the  great  heathen  prophet 
Siaka.  His  doctrine  was  soon  spread,  and  by  his  disciples, 
into  several  parts  of  the  East  Indies.''  (The  italics  are 
mine.)  These  East  Indies  were  possibly  just  certain  parts 
of  Ceylon,  but  they  may,  of  course,  also  have  referred  to 
the  Malay  Peninsula  and  Indo- China.  Several  hundreds 
of  years  before  the  Christian  era  a  vast  expedition  left 
Hindustan  and  made  its  way  into  Indo-China.^  Its  journey 
seems,  for  various  reasons,  to  have  been  made  by  sea. 
Some  French  writers  assert  that  it  was  overland  ;  as  other 
countries  with  sea-coasts  which  were  passed  in  the  journey 

1  This  is  believed  to  be  aboiit  b.c.  500. 


THE   ANCIENT   HISTORY   OF   JAVA       15 

apparently  escaped  this  invasion,  this  opinion  must  be 
mentioned,  although,  as  Sir  Hugh  Chfford  rightly  observes 
in  his  "  Further  India,"  "  the  opinion  is  one  which  it  is  not 
easy  to  accept."  These  emigrants  are  said  to  have  been 
the  founders  of  the  great  Khumer  empire  in  Cambodia, 
which  reached  a  state  of  civilisation  and  power  of  which 
this  is  a  little  idea.  The  ruins  of  the  mighty  and  magnifi- 
cent temples,  with  Angkor  or  Thorn  and  A^igkor  Wai  as  the 
jewels,  are  triumphant  evidence  of  what  this  great  empire 
must  once  have  been.  The  origin  of  the  Khmers  is  plainly 
represented  in  the  ancient  monuments  there,  for  it  is  clear 
from  the  character  of  the  carvings,  the  features  of  the 
statues,  and  the  cult  of  Buddha  that  this  people  came 
from  Hindustan,  and  nowhere  else.  One  may,  therefore, 
dismiss  Ribadeneyra's  statement  in  his  **  History  of  the 
Islands  of  the  Archipelago,"  that  there  is  a  tradition  in 
Cambodia  that  the  ruins  there  were  constructed  by  the 
Romans,  or  by  Alexander  the  Great. 

During  the  life  of  this  empire,  when  the  population  had 
begun  to  swell  to  over-great  numbers,  emigrants,  as  has 
invariably  been  the  custom  in  all  countries  and  ages,  were 
sent  off,  who  sailed  for  the  nearer  countries  and  islands  of 
the  archipelago  and  there  settled.  There  is  a  good  deal  of 
evidence  that  this  did  occur,  for,  apart  from  other  proofs,  it 
is  known  that  when  the  entire  population  of  Khmer — for 
reasons  never  yet  discovered — was  suddenly  driven  out  of 
Cambodia,  its  numbers  had  already  considerably  diminished, 
while  its  arts  had  decayed  almost  to  disappearance. 
Whether  when  the  first  and  earliest  emigrations  took 
place  Java  was  one  of  the  islands  colonised  by  it  cannot 
be  definitely  shown  ;  but  as  the  more  southern  parts  of 
the  Malay  Peninsula  and  Sumatra  were  among  the  countries 
where  settlers  made  their  home,  it  seems  quite  possible  and 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  this  was  so.  If  such  a  coloni- 
sation of  Java  took  place,  it  must  have  been  some  years 


16  JAVA 

before  oui'  era,  for  the  records  of  the  Javans  do  not  go 
further  back  than  a.d.  75,  or  the  year  of  the  first  contact 
with  the  Hindus  from  India. 

There  is  another  possibihty,  however,  still  open  for  the 
origin  of  the  present-day  Javan,  viz.,  that  a  race  of  people 
who  were  already  established  in  Indo-China  long  before 
the  Hindus  came,  and  had  been  used  to  a  quiet  and  agricul- 
tural life,  were  suddenly  confronted  by  these  aggressive 
Hindu  conquerors,  who  compelled  them  to  work  on  their 
temples,  whose  astonishing  size  and  Titanic  proportions 
still  speak  from  their  ruins  of  the  gigantic  efforts  they 
cost.^  That  there  was  such  a  race  here  is  told  us  by  Mr.  J. 
Thomson  in  "  Wonders  of  the  World,"  who  states  that 
Funan  was  the  name  by  which  the  present-day  Cambodia 
was  known,  and  that  it  was  said  to  have  been  in  existence 
(and  well  populated)  in  the  twelfth  century  B.C.  Although 
it  seems  that  the  history  of  these  ruins  is  lost  for  ever,  one 
can  still  realise  how  the  indigenous  and  humble  agricultural 
folk  who  had  lived  there  so  long  before  these  terrible 
foreigners  arrived  groaned  under  the  yoke  that  was  inflicted 
upon  them,  grinding  the  very  lives  out  of  them,  and  killing 
them  in  thousands. 

•What  more  reasonable  to  suppose  than  that  at  last, 
unable  any  longer  to  bear  the  strain  of  living  under  a  race 
of  men  who  were  as  pitiless  as  Pharaoh's  overseers,  they 
escaped  from  their  bondage,  with  their  families,  seeking  a 
refuge  in  the  isles  of  the  archipelago  as  far  from  their  brutal 
taskmasters  as  possible  ? 

This,  then,  was  x)robably  the  origin  of  the  present-day 
inhabitants,  an  Indonesian  race,  impregnated  with  Tartar 
or  Mongolian  strain.  This  hypothesis  is  the  natural  result 
of  every  work  on  this  question  that  might  help,  and  although 

1  According  to  local  native  history,  the  temples  were  built  B.C.  250,  and 
the  people  who  built  them  also  forced  the  natives  to  make  "  gxeat  lines  of 
roads  equal  to  those  of  the  Romans." 


THE   ANCIENT    HISTORY   OF   JAVA       17 

the  views  expressed  may  at  first  be  rejected,  they  may 
eventually  be  accepted  as  time  goes  on,  and  new  discoveries 
are  made. 

Presumably  these  must  have  been  the  people  who  brought 
with  them  the  art  of  rice-growing,  as  philological  investi- 
gations have  irrefutably  proved  that  it  has  been  grown  in 
irrigated  fields  divided  into  terraces  centuries  before  the 
Hindus  directly  from  Hindustan  arrived  in  Java.  This 
fact  is  more  or  less  proved  by  the  circumstance  that  nearly 
all  the  technical  terms  used  in  the  cultivation  are  non- 
Sanscrit,  unlike  the  case  of  everything  else  in  Java  which  the 
Hindus  introduced}  In  "  The  Secret  of  the  Pacific,"  by 
C.  Reginald  Enock,  and  in  "  Hawaiki,  the  Original  Home 
of  the  Maori,"  by  Smith,  one  reads  that  it  is  generally 
believed  that  the  parent  stock  of  the  Polynesians  can  be 
traced  to  India  about  B.C.  450,  and  that  a  migration  took 
place  to  Java  in  b.c.  65.  As  the  date  B.C.  450  is  almost 
identical  with  the  date  of  the  Hindu  invasion  of  Indo- 
China,  one  cannot  help  being  imbued  with  the  idea  that 
Polynesia,  hke  Java,  must  have  been  stocked  from  India 
vid  Indo-China,  and  not  from  India  direct.  This  Mr.  Enock 
hints  at  on  page  300  of  the  above  interesting  work.  Here 
I  might  also  add  that  Wallace,  in  "  Studies  Scientific  and 
Social,"  Vol.  I.,  maintains  that  the  Khmers — a  superior 
race  of  undoubted  Caucasian  type — mingled  with  others, 
emigrated  as  far  south  as  New  Zealand,  producing  the 
magnificent  Maori  race,  who  in  turn  were  the  origin  of 
the  Incas  of  Peru  and  Bolivia. 

Name. — To  what  cause  the  island  owes  its  present  name 
of  Java  is  a  point  which  has  been  frequently  discussed 
but  never  satisfactorily  solved. 

Among  various  traditions  there  is  one  which  relates 
that  the  name  Yawa-Dwipa  (Yava-Dvipa),  or  Land  of 
Barley,  was  given  by  the  first  Hindus  to  both  Sumatra  and 

1  For  rice  culture  in  Java,  see  Chapter  XVII. 
J. — VOL.    I.  r 


18  JAVA 

Java  on  account  of  the  discovery  of  this  cereal  (called  in 
Sanscrit  jdiva-tvut),  ^Yhich  they  found  growing  there 
wild. 

Yawa-Dwipa  (Yava-Dvipa)  does  not,  however,  mean,  as 
has  been  thoughtlessly  stated  and  repeated,  the  country 
of  the  barley,  for  a  very  simple  reason,  and  that  is,  that 
barley  will  not  grow  there  ;  but  it  might  possibly  mean 
millet,  of  wliich  there  are  several  varieties  indigenous  to 
the  island,  many  of  them  called  by  the  generic  name  of 
yawa,  or  jdwa,  the  Sanscrit  name  for  them.  The  name  of 
the  island  is,  it  is  true,  spelt  Yava  (Yava-Dvipa)  in  the 
Sanscrit  inscriptions  discovered  there  ;  but  then  it  equally 
occurs  in  the  form  Yava  in  the  Pagar-ruyung  inscription  of 
A.D.  656  in  Central  Sumatra.  This  shows,  according  to 
Colonel  Gerini  in  his  "  Eesearches  on  Ptolemy's  Geography," 
the  absurdity  of  making  the  term  in  question  an  exclusive 
appurtenance  of  the  island  of  Java,  as  has  been  most 
recklessly  done  by  nearly  every  writer  who  has  hitherto 
treated  the  subject.  And  there  is  some  evidence  in  favour 
of  the  term  having  been  imported  into  Java  from  Sumatra, 
which  island  appears  to  be  entitled  to  the  priority  in  its 
use. 

Javana  or  Yavana,  or  abridged  Java,  was  also  the  name 
given  not  only  to  Sumatra,  but  also  to  portions  of  Borneo 
and  of  the  Malay  Peninsula  (probably  Pahang)  besides  the 
whole  of  Indo-China.  One  of  the  ancient  names  of  Luang 
Plirah  Bang  was  in  fact  Java,  or  Chatva,  which  name, 
according  to  Colonel  Gerini,  the  Lau  found  on  their  arrival 
there,  and  which  they  pronounce  Sava. 

The  term  Java  has,  however,  all  over  the  archipelago 
and  Indo-China,  never  been  viewed  in  the  light  of  a  place- 
name  proper,  but  it  is  understood  as  a  racial  name  ;  and 
even  when  used  in  a  topographical  sense  it  invariably  means 
country  of  the  Java,  or  Javan  (in  Malay  |  9  Lj  Java  or 
Javan)  race.     Far  from  the  range  of  this  term  being  con- 


THE    ANCIENT   HISTORY   OF   JAVA       19 

fined  to  Java,  it  would  seem  that  chronologically  about 
the  latest  place  and  geographically  the  furthest  limit  to 
which  it  extended  was  Java  itself. 

Ptolemy  called  the  island  Jaha-diu  (see  his  map),  which 
may  be  an  abbreviation  of  Yava-Dvipa,  but  is  much  more 
likely  to  mean  Jahadios  Insulce,  from  Jaba  and  dih-,  div-,  or 
dio-. 

Sometimes  the  island  has  been  called  Nusa  Java,  the 
Sanscrit  expression  for  the  island  of  Java,  or  rather  of  the 
Javan  race  ;  but  the  strange  thing  is  that  in  the  legendary 
tales  of  the  Javans  the  term  Java  applies  only  to  its  central 
or  eastern  provinces,  those  portions  in  fact  which  were 
occupied  by  the  Javan  race  strictly  so  called,  whilst  the 
western  part  of  the  island,  although  there  are  several 
Hindu  towns  here,  never  seems  to  have  been  designated 
otherwise  than  as  Tanah  Sunda,  that  is,  the  Sunda  country. 
Even  the  traveller  Barbosa,  as  well  as  the  early  Portuguese 
historians  of  the  East  Indies,  used  to  distinguish  between 
Java  (the  eastern  part  of  the  island)  and  Sunda  (the  western 
part),  beheving  them  to  form  two  separate  and  different 
islands.  The  travellers  and  foreign  merchants,  however, 
who  came  after  these  early  Portuguese,  called  the  whole 
island  Java,  hence  in  course  of  time  the  poetical  fiction. 

The  important  question  which  now  arises  is,  Seeing  that 
this  Javana,  Javan,  or  Chawa  race  was  in  Indo- China,  and 
perhaps  also  the  Eastern  Archipelago,  before  the  advent 
of  the  Mongolic  type,  what  was  it,  and  where  did  it  come 
from  ? 

It  came,  of  course,  from  Luang  P'hrah  Bang,  in  Lido- 
China. 

The  name  Java  was  in  this  case,  therefore,  a  foreign 
importation,  and  the  people  when  they  came  to  the  country 
would  have  been  known  as  Javan.  That  it  arose,  therefore, 
from  the  barley  grown  in  the  island  is  a  myth. 

Can  it  now  be  that  this  race  had  some  connection  with 

c  2 


20  JAVA 

the  people  called  Javan  so  often  mentioned  in  the  Old 
Testament,  and  reckoned  among  the  sons  of  Japheth  ? 

The  First  Visitors  from  the  West. — Among  the  various 
traditions  as  to  how  Java  and  the  Eastern  Islands  were 
originally  peopled  is  one  which  says  that  its  first  inhabitants 
came  in  vessels  from  the  Red  Sea,  Ldut  Mira,  and  that  on 
their  passage  they  coasted  along  the  shores  of  Hindustan. 
This  peninsula  then  formed  an  unbroken  continent  with  the 
Indian  Archipelago,  from  which  it  is  now  so  widely  separated, 
and  which,  according  to  the  same  tradition,  has  since  then 
been  divided  into  so  many  islands  by  some  terrific  convul- 
sion of  Nature. 

Now  as  early  as  b.c.  4500  the  town  of  Ur  Kasdim,  which 
was  situated  about  five  miles  from  the  Persian  Gulf,  was  a 
thriving  and  populous  metropolis,  a  most  important  manu- 
facturing centre,  and  a  mercantile  emporium  of  no  ordinary 
importance,  whose  ships  traded  with  India,  as  is  proved 
by  the  teak  found  in  its  ruins.  African  products  were 
obtained  from  Ezion  GSber,  a  port  of  the  Red  Sea,  near 
the  present  town  of  Inakin,  and  sweet  resinous  gums  essen- 
tial from  Arabia,  being  brought  down  by  an  old  trade  route 
to  Jiddah,  the  port  of  the  later-founded  Mecca. 

By  way  of  the  Red  Sea  and  across  the  Isthmus  of  Suez 
the  energetic  and  enterprising  merchants  of  Ur  Kasdwi,  wiio 
came  from  the  east  and  west,  belonging  to  the  great  trading 
tribes  of  Javan,  Tubal,  and  Meshed,^  supplied  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Egypt  and  the  islands  of  Crete  and  Cyprus  with  the 
riches  of  the  Orient,  and  these  were  by  no  means  the  only 
outlets  for  their  merchandise. 

These  hardy  merchants  returned  to  TJr  Kasdim  hy  way 
of  the  Red  Sea,  as  they  had  gone. 

This  early  trade  between  Europe  and  Asia,  which  first 
commenced  with  the  overland  route,  and  later  was  borne 

1  China  was  a  great  coimtry  as  early  as  B.C.  5000,  perhaps  even  earlier  : 
the  date  is  lost  iu  the  mists  of  the  ages. 


THE   ANCIENT   HISTORY   OF   JAVA       21 

on  the  sea,  was  carried  on  by  the  Phoenicians,  a  wonderful 
race  of  traders  whose  origin  is  wrapped  in  obscurity.  By 
gi'eat  mihtary  and  caravan  routes,  which  existed  certainly 
as  early  as  b.c.  4000  between  India,  Thibet,  Bactria,  Persia^ 
Babylonia,  and  Southern  Europe,  they  carried  Eastern  arts 
of  pottery,  ivory-turning,  glass-making,  enamelling,  and 
wood-carving,  and  these  were  at  last  carried  into  the 
remotest  recesses  of  Germany  and  Scandinavia,  and  even 
further,  thus  doubtless  profoundly  influencing  the  primitive 
civilisation  of  those  countries.^  The  appearance  among 
the  prehistoric  remains  of  Smtzerland  and  Denmark  of 
arms  and  implements  of  bronze  in  succession  to  spear  and 
arrow  heads  of  flint,  generally  affirmed  to  be  due  to  the 
displacement  of  the  primeval  savage  tribes  of  the  West  by 
the  immigration  of  new  races  of  a  higher  civilisation  from 
the  East,  probably  marks  the  age  of  the  earliest  Phoenician 
intercourse  with  Europe.  Amber  beads  have  also  been 
found  in  the  lowest  strata  of  Lachish,  in  Palestine,  dating, 
therefore,  from  B.C.  3000  ;  a  votive  tablet  from  Assyrian 
merchants  of  the  ninth  century  e.g.  thanking  God  for  their 
safe  return  from  the  Ear  Country  where  the  Little  Bear 
stands  at  the  zenith  (that  is,  Scandinavia),  co^vries,  and 
an  Indian  shell  discovered  in  a  very  ancient  Swedish  grave  ; 
some  porcelain  seals  from  China,  found  at  great  depth  in 
various  parts  of  Ireland,  and  dating  back  to  the  third  centuiy 
B.C.,  prove  conclusively  the  enterprise  of  the  seafarers  and 
caravans,  and  the  immense  journeys  they  undertook  in 
those  bygone  days,  in  which  the  earth  is  generally  pictured 
as  wrapped  in  deepest  slumber. 

As  time  went  on  the  Phoenicians  became  more  venture- 
some, and  lengthier  sea  journeys  were  undertaken.  Ceylon 
was  no  doubt  visited,  where  ivory  was  procured,  and  even- 

1  In  the  reign  of  Naram  Shin  (son  of  Sargon  the  Great,  or  Agade), 
B.C.  3700,  an  excellent  postal  service  connected  Canaan  with  Babylonia  ; 
some  of  the  clay  bulke  used  as  stamps  for  the  official  correspondence  at 
that  period  are  to-day  in  the  Louvre  Museum  at  Paris. 


22  JAVA 

tually  the  Malay  Peninsula,  Malacca,  and  Sumatra  (west 
coast),  from  which  came  the  gold  for  Solomon's  temple. 
Lastly,  Java  and  the  Spice  Islands  would  have  been  reached, 
and  hence  the  tradition  of  the  vessels  from  the  Ldut  Mira 
(Red  Sea). 

The  smiling  plains  of  Java — which  island  was  then  one 
with  Sumatra — Avith  their  wild  millet  and  dry  climate,  the 
beautiful  forests,  with  an  abundance  of  the  sweetest  fruits, 
the  numerous  rivers  and  streams,  with  a  plentiful  supply 
of  fish,  would  all  have  had  their  attractions  for  the  rough 
travellers,  and  the  fame  of  the  beauty  of  the  land  would 
soon  have  been  carried  by  them  to  Ceylon  and  Southern 
India,  places  comparatively  near. 

According  to  Edward  Clodd,  in  "  Human  Origins,"  the 
seas  were  covered  with  the  sails  of  Phoenician  or  Egyptian 
ships  certainly  as  early  as  b.c.  1600.  These  seamen 
busied  themselves  in  those  regions  of  the  world  where 
tin  was  kno^\^l  to  exist.  Their  ships  were  loaded  with 
metal  smelted  from  the  tin-bearing  gravel  of  the 
Malayan  Cassitera  Island,  a  name  derived  from  either  the 
Greek  kassiteros  ("  tin  "),  or  from  the  Sanscrit  name  for 
this  metal. 

The  Sacred  Isles  of  the  Gentiles. — As  to  the  East  Indies 
being  the  "  isles  of  the  Gentiles,"  the  descendants  of 
Ham  went  to  Africa,  those  of  Shem  peopled  a  portion 
of  Arabia,  whilst  the  descendants  of  Japheth  migrated 
to  the  south  of  Europe  as  far  as  Italy  and  to  Turkey, 
Greece,  Armenia,  Palestine,  Afghanistan,  Cashmere,  India, 
Ceylon. 

The  sons  (the  Biblical  term  is  probably  a  collective  one 
and  signifies  a  people  or  tribe)  of  Japheth  were  seven  in 
number,  and  became  distributed  in  tribes  as  follows  : — 


The  first,  Gomer,  became  the  progenitor  of  the  ancient  Cim- 
merians and  Cimbri,  from  whom  the  Celtic  family  descended. 


THE    ANCIEXT    HISTORY   OF   JAVA       23 

Second,  Magog,  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Scythians  and 
Tartars. 

Third,  Medai,  was  progenitor  of  the  ancient  Medes. 

Fourth,  Javan,  was  progenitor  of  the  race  that  eventually 
peopled  Greece  and  Sp'ia. 

Fifth,  Tubal,  was  progenitor  of  the  people  around  the  south  of 
the  Black  Sea,  who  spread  to  Armenia. 

Sixth,  Meshed,  mingled  ^yith  Tubal  and  Magog,  and  originated 
the  Russian  and  Cjiinese  races. 

Seventh,  Tiras,  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Thracians. 

That  the  Hindus  and  Javans  are  derived  from  the 
descendants  of  Japheth  is  evident  from  their  subsequent 
historj^,  and  they  fulfil  in  a  very  emphatic  manner  the 
prophetic  declaration  in  Genesis,  chap,  ix.,  verse  27  : — 

"  God  shall  enlarge  Japheth." 

Government,  science,  and  art,  speaking  broadly,  are,  and 
have  been,  Japhetic,  and  Japhetic  onty. 

This  being  so,  there  is  every  reason  for  holding  the  early 
inhabitants  of  Java,  who,  I  repeat,  must  not  be  confused 
with  the  earliest  or  autochthonous  race,  to  have  sprung  from 
the  fourth  son  of  Japheth,  or  to  have  been  of  the  tribes  or 
peoples  called  by  his  name. 

This  Javan  race,  besides  being  in  the  East  Indies,  Cam- 
bodia, Siam,  etc.,  was  also  found  in  Syria  and  Greece. 

That  the  sons  of  Javan  did  live  and  trade  in  these  Indies 
is  evident,  as  also  is  the  fact  that  the  islands  were  known 
as  the  "  isles  of  the  Gentiles  "  ;  for  does  not  Genesis, 
chap.  X.,  verses  4  and  5,  read  : — 

"  And  the  sons  of  Javan,  Elishah,  and  Tarshish,  Kittim  and 
Dodanim,  by  these  were  the  isles  of  the  Gentiles  divided  in  their 
lands,  every  one  after  his  tongue  "  ?^ 

From  the  sons  of  Tarshish  the  port  of  Tarshish,  which 
has  been  identified  in  recent  times  as  none  other  than  the 

'  At  the  present  day  the  East  Indies  are  similarly  divided. 


24  JAVA 

modern  port  of  Galle,  in  Ceylon,  and  which  was  frequented 
so  much  in  the  days  of  King  Solomon,  received  its  name. 

Solomon's  ships  manned  by  the  Phoenicians,  which  were 
built  in  Ezion  Geber,  on  the  Eed  Sea,  sailed  along  the  shores 
of  Arabia,  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  Hindustan.  The  land 
for  which  they  were  bound  was  one  governed  by  seven 
kings,^  and  carrying  on  an  extensive  trade.^  The  voyage 
to  Ezion  Geber  and  back,  we  are  told,  occupied  them  three 
years.  This  is  quite  possible  when  we  bear  in  mind  the 
small  size  of  the  vessels  then  in  use,  which  made  them 
absolutely  dependent  on  the  elements.  The  cargo  these 
hardy  travellers  brought  back  to  King  Solomon  was  gold, 
silver,  ivory,  apes,  and  peacocks.  The  gold  and  silver 
may  have  come  from  a  mountain  in  Sumatra  known  as 
Mount  Ophir,  whence  it  was  conveyed  to  the  coast  down  a 
river  known  to-day  as  the  Kali  Mas  (River  God),  and  thence 
to  Malacca,  where  it  was  reshipped  to  Tarshish. 

Ivory  was  always  very  plentiful  in  Ceylon,  and  could  be 
procured  also  in  Sumatra  and  Java.^ 

Apes  were  indigenous  to  Ceylon  and  Java.  Peacocks 
swarmed  in  both  countries.  Owing  to  its  favourable 
situation,  Galle  was  from  time  immemorial  the  resort  of 
merchants  from  Egypt,  Syria,  Arabia,  Persia,  the  Sudan, 
and  Somali  on  the  one  side,  and  China,  Sumatra,  Java,  and 
the  Spice  Islands  on  the  other.  It  was  the  great  Eastern 
mart  frequented  by  the  ships  of  Tyre  and  Judsea.  Thus, 
1  Kings,  chap,  x.,  verse  22,  reads  : — 

"  For  the  king  had  at  sea  a  navy  of  Tarshish  with  the  navy 
of  Hiram  :  once  in  three  years  came  the  navy  of  Tarshish,  bringing 
gold,  silver,  ivory,  and  apes,  and  peacocks  "  ; 

1  Both  Java  and  Ceylon  had  several  kings  at  one  time. 

"^  This  also  apjilies  to  Java  equally  with  Tarshish  and  Ceylon. 

•  In  former  days  herds  of  elephants  used  to  come  over  yearly  quite 
easily  from  India,  by  what  is  known  as  Adam's  Bridge,  when  certain  edible 
trees  were  in  bloom  and  the  pasture  lands  in  good  condition. 


THE   ANCIENT   HISTORY   OF   JAVA      25 

and  2  Chronicles,  chap,  ix.,  verse  21,  reads  : — 

"  For  the  king's  ships  went  to  Tarshish  with  the  servants  of 
Hiram  :  every  three  years  once  came  the  ships  of  Tarshish, 
bringing  gold  and  silver,  ivory/  and  apes,  and  peacocks  "  ; 

further,  Jeremiah,  chap,  x.,  verse  9,  reads  : — 

"  Silver  spread  into  plates  is  brought  from  Tarshish,  and  gold 
from  Uphaz  "^  ; 

and  Ezekiel,  chap,  xxvii.,  verse  19,  reads  : — 

"  Dan  also  and  Javan  going  to  and  fro,  occupied  in  thy  fairs ; 
bright  iron,  cassia,  and  calamus,  were  in  thy  market." 

Silver  and  iron  were  found  in  the  islands  of  Sumatra 
and  Borneo,  whilst  the  cassia  and  calamus  came  from  no 
other  place  than  the  Spice  Islands. 

Ezekiel,  chap,  xxvii.,  verses  3,  12,  and  13,  reads  : — 

"  And  say  unto  Tyrus,  O  thou  that  art  situate  at  the  entry  of 
the  sea  [Bay  of  Bengal],  which  art  a  merchant  of  the  people  for 
many  isles." 

"  Tarshish  was  thy  merchant  by  reason  of  the  multitude  of  all 
kind  of  riches  ;  with  silver,  iron,  tin,  and  lead,  they  traded  in  thy 
fairs. 

"  Javan,  Tubal,  and  Meshech,  they  were  thy  merchants." 

Now  tin  until,  comparatively  speaking,  recent  times  was 
only  to  be  procured  in  the  East  Indian  islands  of  Banca  and 
BilKton,  the  tin  mines  of  Cornwall  not  having  yet  been 
discovered  ;  while  lead  was  in  those  days  only  known  to 
exist  in  Sumatra.  Fm*thermore,  the  book  of  Isaiah  con- 
tains repeated  references  to  the  "  isles  of  the  Gentiles," 
and  this,  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  invariable  mention 
of  gold,  bright  iron,  silver,  ivory,  apes,  peacocks,  tin,  lead, 
and  spices,  which  nowhere  else  in  the  world,  even  at  the  present 
day,  are  found  all  together  hut  in  the  East  Indies,  leaves  no 
doubt  to  which  islands  Isaiah  referred.^ 

1  See  note  ^,  page  24. 

*  Mount  Oi^hir,  in  Sumatra. 

'  Bronze  was  in  common  use  in  Egypt  and  Chaldsea  before  b.c.  6000,  and 


26  JAVA 

Java  as  tlie  Taprohdna  of  the  Ancients. — As  the  islands  of 
Java  and  Sumatra  appear  to  have  been  hardly  known  to 
the  old  Roman  and  Greek  map-makers,  Selan-dib  (Ceylon) 
has  generally  been  considered  the  land  they  referred  to 
as  Taprohdna.  This  is  perhaps  due  to  the  obscure  and 
rather  contradictory  descriptions  given  by  Ptolemy,  Pliny, 
Strabo,  Pomponius,  and  Mela,  an  obscurity  arising  possibly 
from  defective  knowledge  of  the  theory  of  map-making  and 
a  total  ignorance  of  geography. 

The  Taprohdna  of  the  ancients  Avas  said  to  be  a  country 
intersected  by  the  Equator,  and  from  which  the  Pole  Star 
"was  all  but  invisible.  This  of  itself  would  appear  to  make 
it  sufficiently  obvious  that  Sumatra,  and  not  Ceylon,  is 
the  country,  for  neither  does  the  Equator  intersect  Ceylon, 
nor  is  the  Pole  Star  practically  invisible  from  it,  whilst  both 
are  true  of  Sumatra. 

Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  who  was  very  much  interested  in 
this  question,  writes  in  1817  as  follows^ : — 

"  Whether  Sumatra,  or  Java,  or  any  other  island  of  the 
archipelago,  or  the  whole  or  several  of  them  collectively  may  not 
have  formed  the  Taprobdna  of  the  ancients  is  perhaps  still  an 
undecided  question.  Notwithstanding  the  claims  to  this  distinc- 
tion which  have  of  late  years  been  rather  admitted  than  proved 
in  favour  of  Ceylon,  the  most  striking  fact  detailed  in  the  accounts 
which  have  reached  us  of  this  country,  and  one  which,  from  its 
nature,  is  least  likely  to  have  been  disfigured  or  perverted  by  the 
misrepresentations  or  prejudices  of  travellers,  is  that  it  was 
bisected  in  nearly  equal  portions  by  the  equinoctial  line,  and  to 
the  southward  of  it  the  polar  star  was  not  visible.     How  can  this 

as  it  is  an  alloy  of  copper  and  tin,  the  question  arises,  Where  did  these 
metals  come  from  so  early  as  this  ?  As  even  several  thousand  years  later 
the  East  Indies  were  the  only  known  sources  of  these  metals,  it  is  difficult 
not  to  believe  that  it  was  fi-om  the  East  Indies  that  Egypt  and  Chaldsea 
had  formerly  obtained  them. 

^  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  says  in  a  letter  to  the  late  Earl  of  Buckingham, 
dated  Buitenzong,  August  oth,  1815,  and  referring  to  Sumatra  and  Java, 
"There,  my  Lord,  are  doubtless  the  real  Taprobana  of  the  ancients,  the 
Sacred  Isles  of  the  Hindus." 


THE    A^XIENT    HISTORY   OF   JAVA      27 

statement  be  evaded  or  in  any  way  applied  to  Ceylon  ?  Major 
IVIilford  seems  inclined  to  consider  Taprobdna  is  derived  from  the 
Sanscrit  words  tapa  (penance)  and  bana  (forest  or  grove),  a  deriva- 
tion equally  favourable  to  the  claims  of  the  Javans'  tapa,  and  waiui 
or  wono  having  the  Uke  signification  in  their  language,  and  if, 
as  there  is  reason  to  believe,  an  extensive  intercourse  subsisted 
in  very  remote  times  between  Western  India  and  these  islands, 
where  was  a  country  that  could  more  invite  the  retreat  of  holy 
men  than  the  evergreen  islands  which  rise  in  endless  clusters  in 
the  smooth  seas  of  the  Malayan  Archipelago,  where  the  elevation 
and  tranquillity  of  devotion  are  fostered  by  all  that  is  majestic 
and  lovely  by  Nature  ?  " 

Modern  writers  mostly  say  that  Ceylon  is  Taprobana, 
but,  in  point  of  fact,  probably  both  Sumatra  and  Ceylon 
are  the  places  referred  to. 

Part  II 

The  Hindu  Period 

from  the  establishment  of  hinduism,  anno  javan  1, 
to    the    extinction    of    the    empire    of    mendang 

KAMULAN    OR    MATAREM,   ANNO    JAVAN   927    (a.D.    1002). 

The  Colonisation  of  Java  by  the  Hindus. — In  the  ancient 
Hindu  chi-onicles  known  as  the  Vedas  no  trace  has  been 
found  of  a  record  of  the  first  expedition  from  Hindustan 
to  Java.  The  Javans,  however,  give  a  more  or  less  lucid 
account  of  a  certain  Hindu  called  Aji  Sdka,  said  by  some 
to  have  been  the  Prime  Minister  of  a  great  Maharaja,  who 
visited  Java  with  a  large  following ;  and  they  reckon  the 
first  year  of  their  era  from  this  visit,  a  date  which  corre- 
sponds with  about  the  seventy-fifth  or  seventy-eighth  year 
of  the  Christian  era.^ 

•  The  era  wMcli  bears  the  name  of  Aji  Sdka  really  began  with  his  death, 
that  is,  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  the  Christian  era  ;  but  the  seventy-fifth 
year  is,  according  to  Raffles,  undoubtedly  that  which  the  Javans  adopted, 
corresponding  with  the  former  within  about  tliree  years.  This  slight  differ- 
ence may  be  accounted  for  by  the  introduction  of  the  Mahometan  mode  of 
reckoning  in  vogue  in  Java  during  the  last  three  centuries.  In  the  date 
tables  the  seventy-fi.fth  year  has  been  generally  accepted. 


28  JAVA 

This  great  Maharaja,  the  ruler  of  some  large  kingdom 
probably  in  Bengal,  had  no  doubt  heard  for  years  of  the 
traditional  reports  of  a  land  that  lay  south,  a  land  of  honey, 
teeming  with  precious  and  valuable  metals,  and  gold,  and 
fragrant  spices.  It  must  have  been  known  more  or  less 
over  the  whole  Orient  that  the  Phoenicians — with  whom 
the  Egyptians  associated  later — had  secret  stores  of  wealth 
in  these  parts,  but  the  cunning  of  these  wily  traders,  who 
naturally  desired  to  keep  the  monopoly  of  the  wealth  to 
themselves,  made  other  centres,  such  as  Malacca  and  Selan- 
dih  (Ceylon),  transhipping  ports  and  to  appear  as  it  were 
the  places  whence  the  riches  came.  They  kept  the  actual 
source  of  their  supplies  a  secret ;  it  was,  therefore,  known 
only  to  the  seafarers  themselves.  This  Maharaja,  however, 
with  more  initiative  than  his  predecessors,  was  determined 
to  find  out  the  source,  and  decided  to  have  a  search  made 
for  the  country,  at  least  so  report  says. 

There  are,  it  must  be  observed,  however,  conflicting 
accounts  of  the  real  character  of  Aji  Saka.  By  some  he  i& 
rejDresented  as  a  powerful  prince  who  established  a  large 
colony  in  Java,  which  an  epidemic  of  some  kind  caused 
him  to  withdraw.  Others  describe  him  as  a  saint  and  deity. 
All,  however,  agree  that  to  him  may  be  attributed  the  first 
introduction  of  letters,  proper  government,  and  religion. 

According  to  Javan  historians,  a  judicial  code  was 
already  in  existence  when  he  arrived,  but  one  of  rather  an 
elementary  nature.  It  went  under  the  title  of  "  Sun  and 
Moon."  Under  this  code  a  thief  was  bound  to  make  resti- 
tution of  the  property  stolen,  and  to  pay  in  addition  a  fine 
in  cattle  or  produce.  If  the  theft  was  considerable,  he 
became  the  slave  of  the  injured  party  or  his  relations. 
Murder  was  not  punished  by  death,  but  by  a  heavy  fine  and 
perpetual  servitude  in  the  family  of  the  deceased.  This 
code  Aji  Saka  is  said  to  have  reformed,  and  a  set  of  ordi- 
nances represented   as  having  been   drawn   up   from  his 


THE    HINDU    PERIOD  29 

instructions  is  believed  to  have  been  in  use  as  late  as  the 
time  of  the  empires  of  Janggald  (a.d.  900)  and  Majapahit 
(a.d.  1300).  The  language  of  the  new  invaders  was 
apparently  Sanscrit,  which,  as  is  known,  has  left  its  impress, 
in  the  form  of  the  Kaivi  language,  all  over  the  East  Indies. 
The  religion  introduced  was  Brahminism.  Both  the  lan- 
guage and  the  religion  were  gradually  adopted  by  the 
inhabitants. 

The  way  having  once  been  found,  there  is  no  doubt  that 
expedition  followed  expedition.  In  fact,  a  regular  move- 
ment took  place  to  Java,  the  "  wonderful  land,"  which, 
through  its  supreme  and  unparalleled  beauty  and  gi'andeur 
and  its  abundant  provision  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  lent 
itself  well  to  the  object  in  view,  namely,  power  over  colonies 
believed  to  be  near  the  som-ce  of  the  Egyptian  wealth. 
The  priesthood,  too,  would  have  had  no  objection,  and  saw 
in  Java  a  land  where  the  proselytising  of  the  native  and  the 
spread  of  its  reUgion  was  likely  to  prosper. 

Some  say  this  Aji  Sdka  landed  on  the  north  coast  near 
Tuhan,  and  there  is  a  legend  hereabouts  regarding  him, 
unless  the  Javans  have  confused  the  landing  of  some  other 
Hindu  party  with  that  of  Aji  Scika.  Others,  however,  hold 
strongly  that  he  must  have  landed  somewhere  near  the 
present-day  town  of  Bantam,  or  else  on  the  south  coast, 
near,  or  in,  the  Bay  of  Tjilatjap. 

If  Aji  Sdka  came  from  Cambodia,  the  north  coast  was 
the  most  probable  place  of  landing,  but  if  from  Bengal,  the 
south  coast  is  the  more  hkely. 

How  long  the  so-called  Aji  Sdka  and  his  party  remained 
in  Java  or  when  he  left  are  ahke  imknown.  It  seems, 
however,  reasonable  to  suppose  that  when  he  left,  to  report 
to  his  master,  he  did  so  vdth  a  full  account  of  Mid-Java, 
which  was  the  seat  of  the  first  Hindu  empire  of  Mendang 
Kdmidan  (or  Mafdrem),  which  nominally,  therefore,  was 
founded  by  these  adventurers  and  explorers  in  x\nno  Javan  1. 


30  JAVA 

In  the  chronological  table  given  at  the  end  of  this  chapter 
this  is  taken  to  be  the  case,  although,  as  a  matter  of  fact, 
its  foundation  is  generally  placed  many  years  later. 

While,  as  already  stated,  the  Javan  chroniclers — usually 
Buddhist  priests — ^in  the  main  give  Aji  Sdka  as  the  first 
Hindu  who  visited  Java,  another  account  very  plainly 
states  it  was  the  Prince  of  Eom  who  was  the  first  comer. 
Some  of  these  liistorical  records  appear  sufficiently  interest- 
ing to  give  here,  although  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of 
the  history  of  the  country  shows  that  the  writers  were  not 
always  careful  in  their  statements,  and  drew  too  freely  on 
their  imaginations.  In  the  main,  however,  and  for  Oriental, 
the  records  were  fairly  accurate,  but  they  must  be  looked 
on  as  somewhat  mythical,  and  the  dates  are  hopelessly 
entangled. 

"  Prdbu  Jdya  Bdya  was  a  great  and  powerful  prince  of  Astina,^ 
and  the  fifth  in  descent  from  Arjuna,  the  son  of  Pdndu  Dewa  Ndta, 
after  whom  had  reigned  successively  Bimdnyu,  Parakisit,  Udayana, 
and  Gandra  Yana.  His  Penggawa,  or  chief  minister,  being  a  man 
of  great  enterprise  and  ability,  was  sent  to  visit  and  civihse 
foreign  countries.  In  the  course  of  his  travels  he  landed  on 
Java,  then  the  abode  of  a  race  of  Rasaksa,^  and  known  by  the 
name  of  Niisa  Kendang.  This  happened  in  the  first  year  of  the 
Javan  era,  and  is  distinguished  m  the  Chandra  Sangkala  by  the 
words  nir,  ahu  tanpo,  jdlar,  meaning  hteraUy  '  nothing,  dust,  not 
anything  (but)  man,'  and  metaphorically  the  figures  0001.  He 
here  discovered  the  grain  caUed  jdwa-wut,  at  the  time  the  principal 
subsistence  of  the  inliabitants,  and,  in  consequence  of  this  dis- 
covery, he  changed  the  name  of  the  country  to  Nusa  Jdwa. 
In  his  progress  through  the  island  he  met  with  the  dead  bodies  of 
two  Rasaksa,  each  holding  a  leaf  with  an  inscription  on  it  one  in 
purwa  [ancient],  the  other  in  Siamese  characters  :  these  he 
united  and  thus  formed  the  Javan  alphabet  of  twenty  letters. 

"  He  had  several  combats  with  the  Rasaksa,  particularly  with 
the  Dervata  Chengkar  ;   and,  after  fixing  the  date  of  his  different 

^  Hindustan. 

^  Perhaps  Ba-Sakya. 


THE   HINDU   PERIOD  31 

discoveries  and  leaving  mementoes  of  his  visit  wherever  he  went, 
he  finally  returned  to  Asiina,  and  dehvered  to  his  sovereign  a 
written  account  of  all  he  had  seen  and  done." 

From  the  foregoing  it  appears  that  this  Prime  Minister 
not  only  made  a  journey  through  the  island — probably  only 
a  portion  of  it — but  that  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  used  the 
Siamese  alphabet.  If  no  other  people  had  visited  them 
before,  how  came  they  to  have  this  alphabet  ?  It  may 
fm'ther  be  observed  that  Cambodia  and  Siam  are  practically 
one  country,  and  visitors  from  the  one  may  well  have  used 
the  alphabet  of  the  other.  Furthermore,  the  Javan 
alphabet  was  certainly  not  made  for  the  benefit  of  wild 
savages,  but  a  race  of  people  who  were  in  a  state  to  benefit 
by  it.  The  name,  too,  of  the  individual  that  was  met  with 
in  fight  has  a  Hindu  ring  about  it,  although  it  is  possible  he 
may  have  been  mythical. 

Another  Javan  chi'onology^  in  possession  of  the  Susuhunan 
(called  sometimes  Susunan  for  short),  or  Emperor,  of  Java 
or  Surakerta,  not  only  describes  the  arrival  of  the  fii'st 
Hindus,  but  the  second  arrival  also.  It  is  here  to  be  noted 
that  Aji  Sdka  is  mentioned  as  not  having  arrived  until  after 
the  year  b.c.  1000. 

The  Javan  historian  now  enters  with  more  confidence 
into  details,  although  facts  and  dates  are  as  confused  as 
ever  : — 

"  What  was  first  known  of  Java  was  a  range  of  hills  called 
Qunung  Kenddng,  which  extends  along  the  north  and  south 
coasts  ;  it  was  then  that  the  island  first  came  into  notice,  and  at 
that  period  commenced  the  Javan  era  [Anno  Javan  1  :  a.d.  75 
or  78]. 

"  After  this  the  Prince  of  Rom  sent  twenty  thousand  families 
to  people  Java,  but  all  of  them  perished  except  twenty  famihes 
who  returned  to  Rom. 

"In  this  year  [a.j.   10:    a.d.   85]   twenty  thousand  famihes 

1  In  this  ckronology  the  author  describes  himself  as  a  sovereign  of 
Kediri.     It  is  ascribed  to  Aji  Jaya  Baya,  a.d.  800,  but  probably  wrongly. 


32  JAVA 

were  sent  to  Java  by  the  Prince  of  Kling.  These  people  pros- 
pered and  multiphed.  They  continued,  however,  in  an  uncivi- 
hsed  state  till  the  year  289  [a. J.  289  :  a.d.  360],  when  the 
Almighty  blessed  them  v\^ith  a  prince  called  Kano,  who  reigned 
for  one  hmidred  years  [a.j.  300 — 400  :  a.d.  375 — 475],  at  the  end 
of  which  period  he  was  succeeded  by  Bdsu  Keti.  The  name  of 
the  sovereignty  was  called  Wirdta.  Bdsu  Keti  dying,  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Mdngsa  Pdti. 

"  The  father  and  son  together  reigned  three  hundred  years. 

'■  Another  principality,  called  Astina,  sprang  up  at  this  time, 
and  was  ruled  by  a  prince  called  Ptila  Sara,  who  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Abiasa,  who  was  again  succeeded  by  his  son  Pdndu 
Dewa  Ndta,  the  reigns  of  the  last  three  prmces  together  amounting 
to  one  hundred  years  [a.j.  700—800:  a.d.  775—875].  Then 
succeeded  Jaya  Baya  himself,  who  removed  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment from  Astina  to  Kediri. 

"  The  kingdom  of  Kediri  being  dismembered  on  the  death  of 
its  sovereign,  there  arose  out  of  its  ruins  two  other  kingdoms,  the 
one  called  Bramhdnan,  of  which  the  prince  was  called  Bdka, 
the  other  Peng'ging,  of  which  the  prince's  name  was  Angling 
Dria.  These  two  princes  having  gone  to  war  with  each  other 
[a.j.  900  :  a.d.  975],  Bdka  was  killed  in  battle  by  Ddmar  Mdya, 
the  son-in-law  of  Angling  Dria.  On  the  death  of  Bdka  the 
kingdom  of  Bramhdnan  was  without  a  prince,  and  continued  so 
till,  Angling  Dria  djdng  a  natural  death,  Ddmar  Mdya  succeeded 
him  and  ruled  the  country. 

"  Ddmar  Mdya  dying  and  the  sovereignty  becoming  extinct 
[a.j.  1002  :  A.D.  1077],  there  arrived  from  a  foreign  country  a 
person  called  Aji  Sdka,  who  established  himself  as  a  Prince  of 
Mendang  Kdmulan  in  the  room  of  Dewata  Chengkar,  whom  he 
conquered. 

"  In  the  year  a.j.  1018  [a.d.  1093]  the  Chandi  Sewu  (thousand 
temples)  at  Bramhdmin  were  completed. 

"  The  empire  of  Mendang  Kdmulan  and  its  race  of  princes 
becoming  extinct,  the  kingdoms  which  rose  up  and  succeeded  to 
it  were  : — 

"  (1)  Jang'gala,  of  which  the  prince  was  Ami  Luhur; 
"  (2)  Kediri,  of  which  the  prince  was  Lembu  Ami  Jaya ; 
"  (3)  Ng'arawan,    of    which   the   prince   was    Lembu    Ami 

Sdsa, 
"  (4)  Singasari,  of  which  the  prince  was  Lembu  Ami  Lueh. 


THE    HINDU    PERIOD  33 

"  These  kingdoms  were  afterwards  united  under  Panji  Suria 
Ami  Sesa  [a. J.  1082  :   a.d.  1157],  the  son  of  Ami  Luhur. 

"  Panji  Suria  dying,  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Panji  Lalean, 
who  removed  the  seat  of  government  from  Jang' gala  to  Pajajaran. 
This  took  place  in  a. J.  1200  [a.d.  1275]." 

From  the  foregoing  it  is  seen  that,  compact,  defined,  and, 
comparatively  speaking,  limited  as  the  territory  of  Java  is, 
it  has  never  been  for  any  length  of  time  under  one  sovereign. 
It  is  true  that  one  or  two  of  the  Hindu  princes,  more 
ambitious  and  possibly  more  enlightened  than  the  others, 
have  at  times,  by  peaceful  means  or  by  arms,  subjugated 
their  immediate  neighbours,  and  thus  temporarily  added 
them  to  their  dominions,  but  their  authority  over  the  whole 
island  was  (except  in  the  cases  of  ]\Iandang  Kamiilan  and 
IMajapahit)  never  more  than  nominal.  The  life,  moreover, 
of  these  great  States  (especially  in  later  days)  has  always 
been  more  or  less  marked  by  anarchy  and  rebellion,  murder, 
poisoning,  torture,  and  treachery  everywhere,  while  the 
natm-al  tendency  of  the  first  inhabitants,  submissive  in  a 
high  degree  to  the  Hindu  conquerors,  lent  itself  to  a  sub- 
division into  smaller  States  and  communities  in  every 
period  of  the  history  of  the  island.  Thus  by  the  side  of  the 
line  of  princes  whose  names  appear  in  the  lists  of  sovereigns, 
many  smaller  Hindu  States,  with  dynasties  and  separate 
interests,  existed  in  Java  from  the  earliest  times. 

Another  cause  which  no  doubt  also  tended  greatly  towards 
this  state  of  affairs  was  the  difficulty  and  danger  attached 
to  travelling  and  transport  throughout  the  island.  Ever 
since  prehistoric  times,  ^\^th  the  exception  of  a  few  barren 
stretches  here  and  there,  the  whole  island  has  been  over- 
grown with  a  tangled  and  practically  impenetrable  mantle 
of  trees,  bushes,  and  creepers,  so  dense  as  entirely  to  shut 
out  the  light. 

These  forests,  which  stretched  from  the  shores  to  the 
mountain-tops,  were  the  home  of  tigers,  elephants,  buffaloes, 

J. — VOL.    I.  D 


84  JAVA 

rhinoceros,  and  leopards,  snakes,  droves  of  wild  and  dan- 
gerous swine,  troops  of  monkeys,  and  other  disagreeable 
and  dangerous  animals,  a  state  of  things,  naturalists  main- 
tain, which  would  very  soon  be  the  case  again  if  Nature  was 
left  to  itself  for  a  few  years. 

It  is  no  doubt  due  to  these  reasons  also  that  so  many 
separate  and  independent  kingdoms  were  able  to  exist  in 
the  island  at  one  and  the  same  time,  and  that  the  local 
historians  in  each  division,  owing  to  the  Hindu  invasions 
taking  place  at  more  than  one  point,  and  overlapping  one 
another,  have  come  to  be  at  variance  in  the  various  records 
and  chronologies  which  they  have  left  behind  them. 

In  some  accounts  it  is  stated  that  the  religions  and  arts 
of  India  were  first  introduced  into  Java  by  a  Brahmin 
named  Tritresia,  who  with  numerous  followers  landed  on 
Java,  and  established  the  Hindu  era,  for  which  reason  he  is 
still  considered  by  some  Javans  to  be  the  same  with  Aji 
Sdka. 

The  descendants  of  Tritresia  are  said  to  have  succeeded 
to  the  government  of  the  country,  and  a  list  of  eighteen 
princes  is  adduced  to  bring  the  history  down  to  the  ninth 
century,  when  the  empire  of  Jang' gala  was  established. 

The  following  account  of  princes  beginning  with  Tritresia, 
who  is  said  to  have  established  his  government  at  Giling 
Wesi,  at  the  foot  of  the  volcano  Se  Miru  (Smeroe),  together 
with  the  dynasties  which  they  severally  established  and  the 
dates  at  which  thej  succeeded  to  the  government,  is  in 
parts  somewhat  fabulous,  but  in  the  main  is  probably 
correct. 

The  account  is  taken  from  a  collection  of  the  legends  of 
the  country  compiled  by  Naia  Kasunia,  the  Panambaham 
of  Sumenap,  in  Madura,  in  1812,  either  for  himself  or  Sir 
Stamford  Baffles  : — 

"  Before  there  were  any  inhabitants  on  Java,  Wisnu  (Vishnu) 
presided  therein  ;  but  having  offended  Sang  yang  Ouru,  Tritresia, 


THE    HINDU   PERIOD  35 

son  of  Jala  Prasi  and  grandson  of  Brdma  (Brahma),  was  sent  to 
Java  as  sovereign  of  the  country.  This  prince  was  married  at 
ten  years  of  age  to  Bramdni  Kali,  of  Kamboja  (Cambodia),  and, 
with  eight  hundred  famihes  from  the  country  of  Kling,  estabhshed 
the  seat  of  his  government  at  the  foot  of  Guiiung  Semim,  the  capital 
of  which  he  called  Oiling  Wesi.  He  had  two  sons,  Mdnu  Mandsa 
and  Mdnu  Madewa,  and  his  people  increased  to  20,000. 

"  In  the  country  of  Khng  there  was  a  man  named  Watu  Gunung, 
son  of  Gdna,  of  Desa  Sangdla,  who  heard  of  the  fame  of  Sinta  and 
Ldndap,  two  beautiful  women  residing  at  Giling  Wesi.  Watu 
Gunung  went  in  search  of  them,  and  finding  them  under  the  pro- 
tection of  Tritresta,  attacked  and  defeated  him.  Tritresta  was 
slain,  and  Watu  Gunung  reigned  as  sovereign  of  Giling  Wesi  for 
one  hundred  and  forty  years.  Under  his  government  the  country 
became  very  flourishing.  He  adopted  forty  sons  and  as  many 
daughters  of  the  princes  of  the  country,  and  gave  them  the  names 
of  the  deities  of  Siirga  (Swerga),  for  which,  and  for  other  acts, 
he  was  in  the  end  punished  with  death  by  Wisnu  in  the  year 
240." 

From  this  it  would  seem  that  Tritresta  was  not  the  first 
Hindu  to  come  to  Java. 

"  After  this  Batdra  Guru  sent  Gutdka  from  the  mountain 
Sawea  Chd'a,  in  Kling,  to  be  sovereign  of  Giling  Wesi  [Anno 
Javan  240  :  a.d.  315],  where  after  a  reign  of  fifty  years  he  died, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Baden  Saivela  in  the  year  a.j.  290 
[A.D.  365]. 

"  This  last  prince  reigned  twenty  years,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Gutdma,  who  removed  from  Giling  Wesi  while  yet  unmarried, 
and  went  to  a  country,  Astina,^  which  was  possessed  by  an  elephant 
that  desired  the  princess  Endrddi  in  marriage.  He  fought  and 
killed  the  elephant,  and  married  the  princess,  and  afterwards 
proceeded  to  Langrestina. 

"  There  was  a  Pandila  of  Gunung  Jali,  in  the  country  of  Kling, 
who  had  a  son  called  Bddn  Dasa  Wiria,  who  when  twelve  years 
of  age,  having  obtained  leave  of  his  father  to  go  to  Java,  took  up 
his  abode  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  Lawu  (Lawoe).  His  son 
Ddsa  Bdhu,  when  ten  years  of  age,  determined  to  make  himself 
independent,   and   travelled  with   one   hundred   followers  until 

1  A  district  in  Java  not  far  from  the  present  town  of  Pekalmgan,  probably 
called  so  after  the  old  Hindu  province  of  that  name. 

d2 


36  JAVA 

they  smelt  the  dead  elephant  which  had  been  killed  by  Gutdma. 
There  he  established  himself,  calling  his  capital  Gajahuia  or  Astina 
Pura.  This  was  in  the  year  a. J.  310  [a.d.  385].  Ddsa  Bdhu  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Sudntana,  who  had  wars  with  the  giant 
Puru  Soda.  This  prince  had  a  son  named  Deiva  Brdta,  whose 
mother  died  immediately  after  the  birth  of  the  child  ;  and  the 
prince,  finding  no  one  from  whom  the  child  would  take  milk, 
was  obhged  to  carry  it  about  in  search  of  someone  to  whom  it 
might  take  a  liking.  Of  the  descendants  of  Tritresta  were  first 
Mdnu  Mandsa,  second  Sutdpa,  third  Saputram,  fourth  JSdkri. 
The  last  begat  Pula  Sara,  who  had  a  son  named  Abidsa.  It 
happened  that  Abidsa  when  an  infant  was  borne  in  the  arms  of 
his  mother  Ambu  Sdri  at  the  time  when  Sudntana  was  in  search 
for  a  wet-nurse  for  his  son.  Upon  seeing  her  the  infant  Dewa 
immediately  cried  out,  and  wanted  milk  from  her,  which,  however, 
she  would  not  consent  to  give,  imtil,  after  much  altercation, 
Suantdna  agreed  to  give  his  country  in  exchange  ;  so  that  Ambu 
Sdri  received  the  country  of  Astina  for  her  son  Abidsa,  who  when 
he  arrived  at  a  proper  age  succeeded  as  sovereign  in  the  year 
A.J.  415.     Dewa  Brdta  was  made  Prince  of  Kumbina. 

"  Abidsa  was  married  to  a  woman  advanced  in  years,  by  whom 
he  had  three  sons  :  Dresta  Rdta,  who  was  blind  ;  Pdndu  Dewa 
Ndta,  who  was  very  handsome  ;  and  Rdma  Widdra,  who  was 
lame.  After  twelve  years  he  retired  and  transferred  the  govern- 
ment to  his  second  son.  Pdndu  Dewa  Ndta,  at  the  age  of  fourteen, 
then  succeeded  as  sovereign  of  Astinu,  and  married  Dewi  Kunti, 
daughter  of  Bdsu  Keti,  Prince  of  Madura,  by  whom  he  had  three 
sons :  Kunta  Dewa,  Sma,  and  Jindka.  Dewa  Ndta  also  married 
Madrin,  daughter  of  the  Prince  of  Mandardga,  and  died  leaving 
her  pregnant.  She  was  delivered  of  two  sons,  and  died  also, 
but  Dewi  Kunti  gave  the  children  milk  and  called  the  one 
Sadewa  and  the  other  Nakula.  At  that  time  the  children  of 
Pdndu  Dewa  Ndta  were  very  young  ;  Dresta  Rdta  was,  therefore, 
nominated  protector  during  their  minority ;  but  instead  of 
resigning  the  kingdom  to  them,  he  gave  it  to  his  own  son,  Suyuddna, 
who  becoming  sovereign  of  Astina,  the  five  children  were  sent 
by  Abidsa,  with  a  thousand  families,  to  establish  a  new  country, 
to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  Amerta} 

**  Suyuddna  married  the  daughter  of  the  Prince  of  Mandardga. 

1  In  the  present  district  of  Demak. 


THE   HINDU   PERIOD  37 

He  had  a  son,  and  the  country  became  great,  flourishing,  and 
happy.  There  was  none  more  powerful  ;  and  the  dependent 
chiefs  were  the  Princes  Kerna  of  Awdng'ga,^  Bisma  or  Dewa  Brdta 
of  Kumbina,  Jaya  Pata  of  Ddla  Sejdna,  Jdkar  Sdna  of  Madura, 
and  Sdlia  of  Mandardga. 

"  But  Punta  Dewa  and  his  brothers  in  the  country  of  Amertu 
were  not  satisfied  ;  they  wished  for  their  father's  inheritance, 
and  sent  their  cousin  Kresna  Diarawdti  ^  to  confer  with  Suyuddna, 
and  to  demand  their  rightful  possessions.  For  the  sake  of 
peace  with  their  cousin,  they  offered  to  accept  of  half,  but  Suyu- 
ddna  rejected  their  demand,  and  replied  that  without  the  decision 
of  the  sword  they  should  have  none.  Then  began  the  war  called 
Brdta  Yudha,^  because  it  was  a  contest  for  their  just  rights.  The 
war  lasted  long,  and  during  its  continuance  the  sons  and  followers 
of  both  parties  were  nearly  all  killed  ;  at  last  Suyuddna  himself 
fell  after  a  reign  of  fifty  years.  Punta  Dewa  then  became  sove- 
reign of  Astina,  in  the  year  a.j.  491  [a.d.  566],  but  after  two  years 
he  transferred  the  government  to  Parikisit,  son  of  Ahimdnyu 
and  grandson  of  his  brother  Jenaka.  After  defending  the  country 
successfully  against  the  giant  Usi  Aji,  of  Surabaya,  whom  he  slew, 
he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Uddyana,  who  died  after  a  reign  of 
twenty -three  years. 

"  His  son  Jdya  Derma  succeeded.  This  prince  had  two  sons, 
named  Jdya  Misdna  and  Angling  Derma.  The  former  succeeded 
his  father  after  a  reign  of  twenty-seven  years  and  died  at  the 
expiration  of  five  years.  During  the  reign  of  Jdya  Misdna  there 
was  a  dreadful  pestilence  and  a  violent  earthquake,  which 
destroyed  the  country,  and  his  son  removed  to  Mildwa,  where 
he  became  a  tdpa. 

"  To  this  country  Angling  Derma  had  already  removed  with 
three  thousand  famihes,  during  the  lifetime  of  his  brother,  and 
was  '  acknowledged  as  sovereign  of  Mildwa  Pdti,'  where  he 
reigned  in  prosperity  for  ten  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
period  it  is  related  that  his  princess  burnt  herself,  in  consequence 
of  being  refused  the  knowledge  of  a  certain  prayer  by  which  she 
might   understand   the   languages   of   all   animals.     The   prince 


The  present  Residency  of  Djockjakerta. 
"^  The  present  district  of  Wirosari. 

^  Rendered  famous  in  a  beautiful  epic  poem  of  that  name  in  the  Kawi 
(Sanscrit)  or  classic  language  of  Java. 


303663 


38  JAVA 

aftefwarde  became  insane,  wandered  about,  and  was  transformed 
into  a  white  bird. 

"  The  son  of  J  ay  a  Misdna,  J  ay  a  Purusd,  begat  Puspa  Jdya, 
who  begat  Puspa  Wydya,  who  begat  Rasuma  Wichutra,  who 
again  begat  Rdden  Aji  Nirmdia,  who  reigned  for  twenty  years 
at  Mildwa  Pdti,  but  in  whose  days  the  country  was  greatly 
afflicted  with  pestilence. 

"In  consequence  of  this  his -son  Bisuru  Champdka  departed 
with  his  followers,  and  proceeded  to  Mendang  Kdmulan,  where  he 
abode  as  a  Pandita.  He  had,  however,  a  son  called  Named 
Angling  Derma,  from  whom  descended  Aji  Jdya  Bdya,  who 
became  sovereign  of  the  country  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Purwa 
Chiriti  ;  under  his  government  the  country  greatly  increased, 
he  acquired  large  possessions,  and  all  under  his  administration 
was  flourishing  and  happy.  It  is  related  of  him  that  he  dictated 
the  poem  of  the  Brata  Yudha,  by  order  of  Dewa  Batdra  Guru,  in 
the  year  A. J.  701  [a.d.  776]. 

"  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Saldpar  Wdta  in  a.j.  756 
[a.d.  831],  whose  son,  named  Kandidwan,  afterwards  came  to 
the  government,  under  the  title  of  Jdya  Lang  Kdra.  This  last- 
named  prince  had  a  sister,  called  Chdndra  Sudra,  four  sons,  Subrdta, 
Pdra  Ydta,  Jdta  Wida,  Su  Wida,  and  a  daughter  named  Pambdyan. 

"  His  pat  eh  was  named  Jdya  Singdra,  and  among  his  depen- 
dants were  Gaja  Irdwan,  of  Luddya,  Lembu  Suren  Guna,  of  Jang'  - 
gala,  Wira  Tikta,  of  Kediri,  and  the  Arias'^  of  Singa  Sari  and 
Ngarawan. 

"  In  course  of  time  this  prince  became  very  wicked,  and  married 
his  sister  Chdndra  Sudra.  When  his  pateh,  chiefs,  and  followers 
heard  of  it  they  rose  in  arms,  but  feared  to  attack  the  prince,  as 
it  had  been  predicted  that  he  could  only  be  killed  at  the  full  of 
the  moon.  The  prince  in  the  meantime,  being  informed  of  the 
conspiracy,  immediately  attacked  the  party,  and,  kilhng  the 
pateh,  committed  great  slaughter  among  his  followers.  When 
the  battle  was  over  he  assembled  his  sons,  and  after  teUing  them 
they  were  not  ignorant  of  his  deeds,  and  that  it  was  his  intention 
to  bum  himself  at  the  full  of  the  moon,  he  desired  that  they  would 
thereupon  remove  from  the  place,  and  leave  the  country  of 
Mendang  Kamulan  to  become  a  wilderness. ^     He  then  divided 

*  A  royal  name  at  the  present  day. 

'  To-day  the  district  where  Mendang  Kamulan  was  situated  is  still 
more  or  less  of  a  wilderness. 


THE    HINDU   PERIOD  39 

his  possessions  into  four  parts  :  to  the  eldest  son,  Subrdta,  he 
gave  the  country  of  Jang'gala,  to  his  second  son,  Para  Ydta,  he 
gave  Kediri,  to  his  third  son,  Jdta  Wida,  he  gave  Singa  Sari,  and 
to  his  fourth  son,  Su  Wida,  he  gave  Ngarawan  ;  and  these  princes 
severally  became  independent  chiefs  of  those  kingdoms.  When 
the  full  of  the  moon  arrived  Sri  J  ay  a  Lang  Kara  with  his  wife 
and  sister,  Chandra  Sudra,  went  to  the  Sdnggar  of  Deaw 
Pabayustan,  where  they  burnt  themselves.  The  families  of 
the  Tpateh  and  the  chiefs  slain  in  the  late  battle  also  accompanied 
him,  and  committed  themselves  to  the  flames. 

"  Pembdyum,  his  daughter,  was  not,  however,  permitted  to 
sacrifice  herself,  in  consequence  of  which  she  bore  great  ill-will  to 
her  father,  and  it  is  related  that  she  is  the  same  person  who 
afterwards  went  to  Jang'gala  and  abode  at  Wdna  Kapuchdngan, 
where  she  assumed  the  name  of  Kili  Suchi,  and  went  about  from 
place  to  place,  being  much  beloved  :  for  she  was  very  learned, 
and  made  inscriptions  upon  stones,  one  of  which  is  called  Kdla 
Kerma.'^ 

The  several  and  somewhat  confusing  accounts  of  the 
coming  of  the  first  Hindus  having  now  been  related,  it 
appears  desirable  to  recapitulate  a  little  before  proceeding 
any  further  ;  for,  as  it  has  been  seen,  while  some  writers 
assert  that  Aji  Saka,  "  the  chief  minister  of  a  Hindu  rajah  " 
and  "  a  man  of  great  enterprise  and  abihty,"  was  the  first 
to  set  foot  in  Java,  others  maintain  that  an  expedition  of 
twenty  thousand  famihes  sent  by  the  Prince  of  Bom,  which 
was  followed  by  another  twenty  thousand  families  sent  by 
the  Prince  of  Klijig,  was  the  first  Hindu  colonisation. 
Others  again  state  that  the  religion  and  arts  of  India  were 
first  introduced  into  the  island  by  a  Brahmia  named 
Tritresta. 

The  true  facts  are  probably  that  Aji  Saka,  or  some 
one  corresponding  to  him,  with  a  number  of  followers 
did  come  to  Java  at  an  early  date,  and  was  followed  later 
by  several  large  expeditions,  any  one  of  which  on  its 
arrival  in  Java  may  have  been  the  beginning  of  the 
Javan  era. 


40  JAVA 

At  least  one  of  these  expeditions  came  from  the  coast  of 
Coromandel,  the  others  coming  from  various  parts  of 
India,  or  from  Ceylon.  In  one  of  the  later  expeditionary 
parties  would  most  likely  have  been  the  learned  Brahmin 
TritrSsta. 

There  seems  to  be  very  little  doubt  that  one  of  the 
earliest  expeditions  made  its  centre,  or  capital,  in  middle 
Java,  but  which  one  it  was  we  shall  probably  never  know 
for  certain.  Some,  however,  hold  that  the  Sunda  district 
is  likely  to  have  been  chosen  as  the  site  for  their  first  town. 
The  Prince  of  Rom's  forces  may  therefore  have  landed 
somewhere  near  the  present  town  of  Bantam,  formerly 
known  as  Banten.^ 

The  Prince  of  Kling's  expedition,  of  which  perhaps 
Tritresta  was  the  commander,  landed  probably  somewhere 
in  the  east  of  Java,  near  where  the  later  town  of  Jortan  or 
present  village  of  Bangil  are  found,  but  anyhow  in  this 
neighbourhood. 

Tritresta,  of  whose  abilities  and  learning  there  can  be  no 
doubt,  led  his  followers  into  the  interior,  estabhshing  him- 
self at  the  foot  of  the  volcano  Sm^ru,  at  a  place  they  called 
Giling  Wesi,  thereby  opening  an  era  and  founding  a  dynasty 
of  which  he  seems  to  be  the  first  member.  A  population 
soon  grew  up  in  this  part  of  Java  under  his  fostering  care, 
and  as  a  result  there  eventually  arose  the  kingdom  of 
Jang' gala,  which  was  established  by  one  of  the  princes  of 
the  empire  of  MSndang  Kamulan. 

Contemporaneously  with  Jang'gala  sprang  up  the  king- 

*  In  the  Journal  of  the  Batavian  Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  Vol.  III., 
page  186,  we  find  that  Mr.  Friederich,  whilst  investigating  the  antiquities 
of  Java,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Hindus  at  a  very  early  period 
must  have  had  establishments  in  Banten,  and  exercised  a  considerable 
influence.  This  influence  did  not  spread  into  the  interior,  however,  and 
in  later  times  no  Hindu  settlements  of  any  importance  are  known  to  have 
existed  here.  This  place  agrees  with  the  site  of  Langga  or  Langga-Su, 
mentioned  by  the  Chinese,  which  name  also  disappears  soon  afterwards. 


THE   HINDU   PERIOD  41 

domg  of  Daha,^  Singa  Sari,^  and  Ngarawan  ^ ;  all  of  these 
kingdoms  in  course  of  time  fell  under  the  sway  of  the 
mighty  empire  of  Majapahit. 

It  is  thought  that  some  of  the  members  of  the  expedition 
in  which  was  Tritresta  at  the  time  of  their  arrival  in  Java 
migrated  in  a  westerly  direction  aa  far  as  Bemhdng  and 
Japcira.  At  the  latter  place  a  settlement  was  made  which 
soon  developed  into  the  capital  of  a  kingdom  of  some  im- 
portance mider  the  name  of  Malawa  Pati,  and  shows  a 
dynasty  of  six  Hindu  kings  who  ruled  there  from  Anno 
Javan  588  to  Anno  Javan  756. 

From  Chinese  records  these  kings  appear  to  have  been 
designated  by  Chinese  travellers  to  Japara  as  the  "  Kings 
of  Java."  Some  of  the  earliest  Hindu  settlers  found  their 
way  from  here  to  the  plateau  on  the  mountain  of  Dieng, 
where  a  small  sanctuary  or  retreat  was  established,  which 
eventually  grew  into  a  holy  city  of  considerable  importance. 
With  this  explanation  the  Javan  history  may  be  resumed. 

"  When  Prdbu  J  ay  a  Bay  a  *  of  Astina  died  [see  note]  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  descendants  named  Ami  Jdya,  Jdya 
Ami  Sana  Pdnclia  Dria,  and  Kasuma  Chitra.  During  the  reign 
of  the  last  of  these  princes  the  country  [in  India]  changed  its 
name  [from  Astina]  to  Gujrat,  and  it  having  been  foretold  that 
it  would  decay  and  go  to  ruin  altogether,  the  prince  resolved  to 
send  his  son  to  Jawa  [the  kingdoms  of  Jang'gala,  Daha  Singa 
Sari,  and  Ngarawan  were  all  in  existence  at  this  time],  and 
possessing  the  written  account  of  Aji  Sdka  which  had  been 
preserved  in  his  family,  he  gave  it  to  his  son,  and  embarked  him 
with  about  five  thousand  followers  for  that  island,  among  whom 

1  Daha  was  situated  between  the  present  towns  of  Ponorogo  and 
Madioen. 

2  Singa  Sari  was  near  the  present  town  of  JIalang,  and  its  ruins  are  still 
to  be  seen. 

^  Ngarawan  is  further  east. 

*  The  Prdbu  Jdya  Bdya  here  referred  to  was  an  Indian  sovereign,  and 
must  not  be  confused  with  one  of  his  descendants,  Aji  Jdya  Bdya,  who 
ruled  in  Kediri  in  the  year  800  of  the  Javan  era.  This  Prdbu  Jdya  Bdya 
is  he  who  is  supposed  to  have  sent  Aji  Sdka  out  on  his  travels. 


42  JAVA 

were  jdlma-tani  [people  skilled  in  agriculture],  jdlma-undagi 
[artificers],  jdlma-ujam-dudukan  [men  learned  in  medicine], 
jdlma-pangnidrik  [able  writers],  jdlma-prajurit  [military  men]. 

"  They  sailed  in  six  large  ships  and  upwards  of  a  hundred  small 
vessels  and  after  a  voyage  of  some  months  reached  what  they 
conceived  to  be  the  island  of  Jdwa,  and  many  landed  ;  but  as  it 
did  not  accord  with  the  account  given  by  Aji  Saka  they  re- 
embarked.  In  a  few  months,  however,  they  came  in  sight  of  an 
island,  with  a  long  range  of  mountains,  and  some  of  them,  with 
the  prince  at  their  head,  effected  a  landing  at  the  western 
extremity,  while  a  part  was  driven  to  the  southward. 

"  They  soon  met  with  the  grain  jaiva-wut  as  described  by 
Aji  Sdka,  and  ascertained  they  had  at  last  reached  their  destina- 
tion, then  opening  the  book  of  Aji  Sdka,  the  days  of  the  week  and 
the  panchawdra  were  named. 

"  The  prince,  however,  did  not  long  remain  in  this  part  of  the 
island,  for  on  clearing  the  forest,  a  lingering  sickness  appeared 
among  his  followers,  and  many  died  from  drinking  the  water, 
so  he  moved  to  the  south  and  east,  in  quest  of  a  more  salubrious 
position,  and  with  the  hope  of  falling  in  with  their  companions} 
These  they  found  at  a  part  of  the  island  now  known  by  the  name 
of  Matdrem  :  when  the  high  priest  opened  the  book  of  Aji  Sdka, 
and  referred  to  the  prophecy  that  Jdwa  should  become  an. 
inheritance  to  the  descendants  of  Prdbu  Jdya  Bdya,  he  sum- 
moned the  whole  party  together  and  formally  proclaimed  the 
prince  sovereign  of  the  country  under  the  title  of  Browijdya 
Sawela  Chdla.  The  name  Mendang  Kamulan  was  then  given  to 
the  seat  of  government." 

This  was  about  a.j.  495. 

The  Ancient  Empire  of  Mi^ndang  Kami^lan  (Matarem), 

Anno  Javan  495  (a.d.  570). 

On  the  borders  of  the  district  of  Kembang  there  is  still 

a  small  desah,  or  village,  which  goes  by  the  name  of  Mendang 

Kamulan,  and  a  spot  is  pointed  out  as  the  place  where  the 

old  kraton,  or  palace,  is  supposed  to  have  stood.^    This 

was  not,  however,  the  seat  of  the  capital  of  the  ancient 

empire,  which  was  situated  on  a  spur  of  the  hill  beside  the 

1  The  italics  axe  not  ia  the  original. 

*  See  M6ndang  Kamiilan  a  few  pages  further  on. 


THE   HINDU   PERIOD  48 

plain  of  Brambanan/  where  the  remains  of  the  once  famous 
kraton,  whose  stones  and  slabs  of  gigantic  proportions  still 
pave  the  plateau,  the  moat,  and  the  dwelling-houses  of  the 
attendants,  and  so  forth,  may  still  be  seen. 

The  position  chosen  by  Browijdya  for  his  palace  is,  in  all 
likelihood,  the  site  of  the  earliest  Hindu  settlement  in  the 
island,  and  was  perhaps  occupied  centuries  before  his 
arrival.  M^ndang  Kamulan  ^  was  in  fact  the  capital  of  the 
first  kingdom  of  Matdrem,  which  suddenly  disappeared  just 
about  the  time  that  the  empire  of  Majapahit  rose  into  such 
importance. 

The  Hindus  on  the  arrival  of  Browijdya  must  have  been 
fairly  well  established  in  Java  ;  and  doubtless  had  founded 
numerous  states  or  kingdoms  under  more  or  less  independent 
princes  in  different  parts  of  the  island,  which,  as  time  went 
on  and  the  population  increased,  all  became  centres  of  some 
importance. 

There  is  every  indication  that  these  Hindu  rajahs  were 
highly  delighted  with  the  country  and  the  ease  with  which 
they  were  able  to  govern  the  land.  They  seem  to  have 
surrounded  themselves  with  every  luxury,  maintained  huge 
retinues  of  womenfolk  to  attend  to  their  daily  wants,  and 
demanded  that  every  comely  young  maiden  should  serve 
her  time  in  the  harem.  They  also  kept  up  a  regal  splendour 
at  their  courts,  probably  even  greater  than  that  to  which 
they  had  been  accustomed  in  their  own  country.  Towards 
their  people,  although  generally  speaking  they  were  exacting, 
they  were  for  Orientals  humane,  and  the  demands  they 
made  of  them  or  the  tasks  they  set  them  were  never  greater 
than  could  be  borne.  This  is  proved  by  the  rapidity  with 
which  the  population  increased  while  the  Hindus  ruled  the 
island. 

>  See  "  Ruins  on  the  Plain  of  Brambanan  "  (chapter  on  "  Antiquities  "). 
*  The  Regent  of  Samarang,  a  highly-bred  and  aristocratic  Javan  prince, 
informed  me  that  the  place  "  Kamulan  "  was  originally  spelt  with  an  "  o  " 
nstead  of  "  n  "  (Kamolan). 


44  JAVA 

The  first  Hindu  sovereigns  were  undoubtedly  men  of 
knowledge,  enterprise,  and  great  energy — possibly  specially 
chosen  for  their  fitness,  and  probably  under  some  control 
from  Hindustan.  Before,  however,  the  end  of  the  thirteenth 
century  we  are  led  to  suppose  that  the  sovereigns  in  some 
way  or  other  were  no  longer  under  any  sort  of  control  from 
Hindustan,  for  they  degenerated  and  quickly  grew  to  be 
voluptuous  persons,  whose  every  thought  was  centred  in 
the  pursuit  of  pleasure. 

Their  pleasures  no  doubt  so  occupied  their  time  and 
sapped  their  vitality  that  the  affairs  of  the  government  and 
the  care  of  the  people  came  to  be  left  to  others.  Thus  in 
the  day  of  reckoning  these  princes  were  found  unable  to 
cope  with  the  situation,  as  their  history  shows. 

The  Hindu  priests — first  Brahmins,  later  on  Buddhists — 
also  found  in  Java  a  land  which  offered  to  them  all  that 
was  needed  for  the  tranquillity  of  both  body  and  soul,  and 
a  land  which  gave  them,  among  the  cool  mountains,  seclusion 
for  those  solitary  devotions  which  seem  at  all  times,  as  at 
the  present  day,  to  have  strongly  appealed  to  all  true 
Brahmins,  and  specially  to  Buddhists,  be  they  in  Java, 
Japan,  China,  Siam,  Cambodia,  or  India.  But  in  these 
early  days,  while  religion  breathed  a  spirit  of  humility,  the 
priests  in  reality  from  their  intense  desire  for  power,  which 
generally  breeds  intrigue  and  plot,  were  no  better  than 
fanatics. 

Where  if  not  in  Java  had  they  a  country  so  fitted  for 
practising  their  tenets  ? 

A  mild  population,  vast  forests  of  beautiful  trees,  silent 
groves  of  shady  palms,  chains  of  majestic  volcanic 
mountains,  all  dedicated  to  the  god  Vishnu — all  these  and 
countless  other  beauties  invested  the  country  with,  as  it 
were,  the  halo  of  the  great  Creator,  and  enabled  the  priests 
to  declare  that  the  island  was  sacred. 

When  one  bears  in  mind  that  the  Hindus  who  came 


THE   HINDU    PERIOD  45 

hither  were  from  the  dusty,  dry,  and  oppressive  plains  of 
India  vdth  its  overburdening  heat,  where  neither  tree  nor 
shrub  thrived,  it  seems  by  no  means  strange  for  them  to 
have  considered  this  island,  with  its  wonderful  and  luxuriant 
vegetation,  to  be  a  country  sacred  to  the  gods,  nor  is  it 
surprising  under  these  circumstances  to  find  that  they 
migrated  to  Java  in  astonishing  numbers. 

The  priesthood  must  soon  have  assumed  and  played  a 
more  important  part  in  this  foreign  land  than  they  had 
hitherto  dared  to  do  under  the  autocratic  and  despotic 
eye  of  the  Hindu  sovereigns  in  Hindustan. 

After  playing  upon  the  superstitious  feelings  of  the 
people  until  their  control  was  assured,  they  probably  took 
on  a  lofty  tone  of  morality,  and  ended  by  having  an  all- 
pow^erful  influence  over  them. 

They  landed  the  Hindu  rulers,  to  whom  they  appeared 
to  have  acted  as  counsellors. 

This  power  they  must  have  maintained  for  centuries, 
rearing,  fostering,  and  teaching  a  race  which  built 
stupendous  temples,  the  wonder  of  all  ages,  and  proving 
that  a  state  of  civilisation  existed  in  Java  which  is  scarcely 
to  be  credited  now^adays. 

All  was,  however,  vain,  for  everything  was  eventually  to 
be  SAvept  away,  as  if  it  had  never  existed,  by  an  irruption 
of  the  Mahometans,  whose  forces  came  to  Java  after  the 
Hejira  (a.d.  622). 

On  Broivijdya  establishing  himself  at  Mendang  Kamulan, 
the  earlier  Hindu  dwellers  here  removed  themselves,  it  is 
said,  to  the  Dieng,  where  they  completed  the  building  of 
that  extraordinary  and  w^onderful  mountain  town  which 
was  to  be  the  resort  of  pilgrims  for  nearly  a  thousand  years. 

"  Browijdya  now  found  that  men  alone  were  wanting  to  render 
Mendang  Kamulan  a  great  and  flourishing  state,  and  he  accord- 
ingly applied  to  Gujrat  for  assistance.  The  ambassadors  whom 
he  sent  proceeded  down  the  river  and  embarked  at  Gresik,  so 


46  JAVA 

called  from  Giri-sik  in  consequence  of  the  hills  [giri]  running  in 
this  part  of  the  island  close  to  the  sea-shore  [sik],  and  when  they 
reached  Gujrat,  the  father  of  Sawela  Chala,  delighted  to  hear  of 
his  success,  immediately  sent  him  a  reinforcement  of  two  thousand 
people. 

"  The  kindred  and  friends  of  the  new  colonists  were  permitted 
to  proceed  in  great  numbers  to  Java,  where  they  estabhshed 
themselves  principally  in  the  southern  ^  and  eastern  ^  provinces. 
The  Prince  Browijdya  lost  no  time  in  improving  his  capital, 
which  became  an  extensive  city  in  the  year  a.j.  525  [a.d.  600]. 
From  this  period  Jdwa  was  known  and  celebrated  as  a  kingdom  : 
an  extensive  commerce  was  carried  on  with  Oujrat  and  other 
countries,  and  the  bay  of  Matarem,  then  a  safe  place  for  shipping, 
was  filled  with  adventurers  from  all  parts. 

"  Nothing,  however,  is  represented  to  have  tended  more  to 
the  prosperity  of  this  establishment  than  a  supposed  union  which 
is  said  to  have  taken  place  between  the  family  of  Browijdya 
Sawela  Chdla  and  that  of  Aru  Bdndan  [Aroe  and  Banda  islands 
named  after  this  family],  a  prince  who  had  recently  arrived  from 
the  Moluccas,  and  estabhshed  himself  in  Balamhdngan.^  Hearing 
of  the  arrival  of  Sawela  Chdla,  this  prince  with  his  followers 
proceeded  to  Mendang  Kamulan  and  submitted  to  his  authority 
on  condition  that  the  eastern  provinces  including  Balambdngan 
should  be  confirmed  to  him  and  his  descendants.  According  to 
the  tradition  of  the  country,  this  prince  was  principally  induced 
to  submit,  in  consequence  of  the  other  party  being  able  to  explain 
the  inscription  and  signs  of  Aji  SdJca,  which  he  himself  could  not, 
and  in  consequence  of  production  of  the  writings,  in  which  it 
was  prophesied  that  the  country  should  become  the  inheritance  of 
the  family  of  this  prince  [that  is  to  say  of  Prdbu  Jdya  Bdya 
and  his  descendants  J 

"  Browijdya  Sawela  Chdla,  after  a  long  and  prosperous  reign, 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  Ardi  Kasuma,  and  he  again  on  his  death 
by  his  son  Ardi  Wijdya. 

"  During  the  sovereignty  of  these  princes  the  country  advanced 
in  fame  and  prosperity,  and  the  city  of  Mendang  Kamulan,  since 

*  Matarem, 

*  At  Gresik,  Daha,  Eedirie,  Jang'gala,  Singa  Sari,  Ugarawan. 

*  In  Java  in  the  Straits  of  Bali,  once  a  great  kingdom,  subject  to  the 
Maharajah  of  Matarem.  Still  in  existence  when  the  English  and  Dut<5h 
came  to  Java. 


THE   HINDU   PERIOD  47 

called  Bramhanan  or  Pramhanan,  increased  in  size  and  splendour. 
Artists,  particularly  in  stone  and  metals,  arrived  from  distant 
countries  :  the  temples,  of  which  the  ruins  are  still  extant  both 
at  this  place  and  at  the  Bdro  Bddo  in  Kedu,  are  stated  to  have  been 
constructed  about  this  period  by  artists  invited  from  India, ^  and 
the  remains  of  the  palace,  situated  in  a  range  of  low  hills  near  the 
site  of  the  thousand  temples,  still  attest  the  existence  of  this 
first  capital  of  Java. 

"  Ardi  Wijdya  had  five  sons,  besides  a  numerous  illegitimate 
offspring.  The  eldest  was  appointed  chief  [director]  of  the  class 
of  cultivators,  the  second  of  the  traders,  the  third  to  the  charge 
of  the  woods  and  forests,  and  the  fourth  chief  of  the  manu- 
facturers of  oil,  sugar,  and  spirits,  and  the  fifth,  named  Ren 
Denang  Gendis,  remained  as  assistant  to  his  father. 

"  When  this  prince  died  his  youngest  son,  Ren  Dendang 
Gendis,  found  himself  in  charge  of  the  capital  and  invested  with 
the  general  administration  of  the  country  [empire]  ;  but  his 
brothers  having  formed  independent  governments  in  other  parts 
of  the  island  refused  to  acknowledge  his  supremacy.  One  of 
them  was  established  at  Bdgalen,  another  at  Japdra,  and  a  third 
at  Koripan.^ 

"  He  is  said  to  have  died  of  a  broken  heart  in  consequence  of 
these  secessions,  leaving  a  numerous  progeny  who  established 
themselves  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

"  The  next  prince  who,  according  to  these  accounts,  seems  to 
have  succeeded  to  the  government  of  Mendang  Kamulan  was 
Dewa  Kasuma,^  who,  being  of  an  ambitious  character,  is  said  to 
have  proceeded  eastward  and  established  the  kingdom  of  Jang'  - 
gala,^  the  capital  of  which,  so  called  from  his  attachment  to  the 
chase  [jang'gala  signifying  a  dog  in  the  Ja van  language],  was  built 
in  the  forest  of  Jengawan  a  few  miles  to  the  eastward  of  the 
modern  Surabaya,  where  its  site  with  many  interesting  remains 
of  antiquity  is  still  pointed  out. 

"  This  event  is  supposed  to  have  taken  place  about  the  year 
846." 

1  Assisted  by  the  local  Javans  taught  by  their  Hindu  masters. 

-  Sometimes  written  Kohoeripan,  situated  on  the  river  Brantas,  in  the 
district  now  called  Sourabaya. 

^  There  must,  however,  have  been  several  between  him  and  Ben  Dendang 
Gendis. 

*  Spelt  also  Djengolo  by  H.  Hoepermans  in  "  Het  Hindoo  Ryk  van 
Doho." 


48  JAVA 

The  Hindu  princes  who  ruled  over  the  empire  of  Mendang 
Kamulan  were  men  of  intelHgent  and  broad  views,  who 
exercised  a  mild  and  beneficent  government.  In  the  other 
provinces  and  districts  at  this  time,  however,  especially  those 
under  the  rule  of  petty  potentates,  there  seems  to  have  been 
a  rather  severe  despotism,  and  such  was  the  religious 
importance  of  the  Hindu  princes  that  the  Javans  were 
obliged  to  crouch  down  in  the  roads  and  turn  their  heads 
away  when  their  rajah  passed  by  in  all  his  mightiness  and 
holiness  on  his  elephant  or  in  his  peddti  (a  sort  of  grohah) 
drawn  by  four  oxen.  This  custom,  it  may  be  observed,  is 
still  in  force  in  some  districts,  and  is  practised  when 
Europeans  pass  by.  Dewa  Kasuma  extended  the  empire 
of  MSndang  Kamulan  until  the  whole  of  the  provinces 
eastward  of  the  old  town  of  Jdwa  (Japara)  submitted  to 
his  authority.  During  his  reign  he  sent  his  family,  consisting 
of  four  sons  and  a  daughter,  to  Kling  (India)  in  order  that 
they  might  there  be  educated  and  instructed  in  the  religion 
of  Brdma.  Whilst  in  India  the  eldest  son  married  the 
daughter  of  one  of  the  greatest  princes  of  the  country,  and 
returned  to  Java  with  three  large  ships  laden  with  long- 
cloth  and  other  valuable  manufactures,  and  bringing  with 
him  able  artists  of  different  professions  and  a  thousand 
specially  selected  troops  presented  to  him  by  his  father- 
in-law  as  a  bodyguard. 

D^wa  Kasuma  on  the  return  of  his  children  from  India 
divided  all  his  possessions  among  them,  the  three  kingdoms 
going  as  follows  : 

To  the  eldest,  Ami  Luhur,  he  gave  the  succession  of 
Ja7ig'gala,  with  a  jurisdiction  of  limited  extent ;  to  Ami 
Jdya  he  gave  the  country  of  Singa  Sari ;  to  Lemhu 
Mengdrang  Ngarawa,  or  Browerno,  and  to  Lemhu  Ami  Luhur 
the  country  of  Dahd  or  Kediri.  His  daughter,  who  was  the 
eldest  of  his  children  and  named  Dewa  Kill  Suchi,  remained 
unmarried  and  is  stated  to  be  the  builder  of  the  temples  of 


THE    HINDU   PERIOD  49 

Singa  Sari,  the  ruins  of  which  near  the  town  of  Malang  still 
remain. 

About  this  period  (a.j.  846)  the  first  intercourse  with 
China  is  said  by  the  natives  to  have  taken  place  ;  a  large 
Chinese  wdng  kang,  or  junk,  being  wrecked  on  the  north 
coast  of  Java.  The  crew  landed,  some  near  Japara,  at 
Semarang,  and  at  Tegal,  it  is  said.  The  supercargo  of  the 
vessel  is  represented  as  having  brought  with  him  a  magical 
stone,  by  which  he  could  perform  many  wonderful  miracles, 
and  by  means  of  which  he  so  ingratiated  himself  with  the 
ruling  prince  of  Tegal  that  he  was  allowed  by  him  to  collect 
the  remainder  of  the  crew,  and  form  a  Chinese  establishment 
wdth  many  privileges.^ 

At  no  period  during  the  existence  of  the  empire  of 
Mendang  Ka7nulan  did  its  power  stand  higher  than  at  this 
time.  It  was  in  fact  at  the  zenith  of  its  glory.  But  its 
star  was  going  towards  its  setting.  The  whole  island  of 
Java  stood  practically  under  the  sway  of  its  ruler,  and  the 
renown  of  its  power,  wealth,  and  might  reached  from 
Bcdamhangan  in  the  east  to  the  new  town  of  Banten  (Bantam), 
which  had  superseded  the  ancient  Hindu  city  of  Langga 
(which  lay  near  it),  in  the  west.  It  was  in  Mendang 
Kamulan  (or  Matarem)  that  art  in  Java  rose,  and  it  was 
from  here  that  it  took  its  course  through  the  island,  bearing 
the  wisdom  and  teachings  of  the  rulers  of  Matarem. 

It  was  from  Mendang  Kamulan  also  that  all  the  wonders 
of  the  island  came  ;  for  from  here  the  bands  of  skilled 
sculptors,  artificers,  builders,  workmen  who  built  the 
temples  of  Boro  Biidur,  Brambanan,  Chandi  Mendoet,  and 
the  gigantic  mausoleums  at  Chandi  Serivoe  were  drawn. 

The  plains  in  the  provinces  of  Bdgalen,  Kedu,  and  Jogya 

1  As  will  be  seen  in  another  chapter,  these  were  the  first  to  visit  Java, 
although  this  establishment  may  have  been  one  of  the  first  found  in  the 
district.  Toeban  and  Lasem  are  generally  accepted  as  the  places  where  the 
first  Chinese  settled,  with  Gr6sik  later  on. 

J. — VOL.    I.  B 


50  JAVA 

Karta  were  cultivated  with  rice  in  a  highly  scientific  manner 
for  the  support  of  the  heavy  population. 

Each  department,  so  to  speak,  had  its  director,  respon- 
sible to  the  maharaya  for  its  welfare  and  proper  adminis- 
tration. 

Judges,  with  a  proper  judicial  code  based  on  ordinances 
compiled  by  Aji  Saka,  and  suitable  to  the  country,  sat 
daily  to  try  all  cases  and  keep  order  in  the  land.  Yet, 
notwithstanding  all  this,  the  empire  suffered  a  sudden  and 
tragic  collapse,  as  many  others  have  done  before  and 
since. 

This  was  during  the  reign  of  Kixda  or  Mdisa  LaUan,  who 
at  a  tender  age  came  under  the  influence  of  a  "  crafty  and 
designing  minister,"  who  entered  into  a  league  with  one  of 
the  brothers  of  Mdisa  Lalean  to  deprive  his  master  of  his 
empire.  Jang'gala  was  the  first  to  separate  itself  and 
assume  independence  in  the  east,  declining  to  acknowledge 
the  supremacy  of  MSndang  Kamulan.  Singa  Sari  and 
Kediri  soon  followed,  and  acknowledged  only  the  Eajah  of 
Jang'gala  as  their  overlord. 

Mdisa  Lalean,  after  the  dismemberment  of  his  eastern 
kingdom,  quitted  his  capital  ^  and  proceeded  to  the  west, 
where  he  founded  a  new  kingdom  at  Blora. 

Another  reason  given  for  his  leaving  his  capital  was  the 
breaking  out  of  a  dreadful  sickness  which  ravaged  at  this 
period  in  Middle  and  East  Java.  This  was  magnified,  as 
it  were,  by  a  tremendous  eruption  of  the  volcano  of  Klut 
(Kloet),  whose  discharges  are  said  to  have  resembled 
thunder  and  the  ashes  to  have  involved  the  country  in 
impenetrable  darkness.  This  and  the  sickness  which 
continued  without  abatement  created  a  panic  amongst  the 
inhabitants  of  Middle  Java  and  caused  them — so  tradition 
says — to  leave  everything  and  suddenly  to  embark  in 
vessels  and  sail  out  to  sea,  no  one  ever  knowing  whither 

^  He  was  possibly  driven  from  it. 


THE   HINDU   PERIOD  51 

they  went,  or  hearing  any  more  of  them.^  In  the  district 
of  Blora  Mdisa  LaUan  laid  the  foundation  of  his  new  capital 
under  the  name  of  Mendang  Kamulan,  which  was  that  of  a 
previous  empire.  His  minister  Bdka,  however,  aspiring  to 
its  sovereignty,  laid  waste  the  country  and  burnt  the  new 
kraton.     This  happened  about  a.j.  927  (a.d.  1002). 

Thus  came  to  an  end  the  ancient  empire  of  Mendang 
Kamulan,  the  first  empire  of  Matdrem.  At  the  height  of 
its  glory  it  was  perhaps  the  greatest  Java  has  seen. 

The  kris  ^  was  introduced  about  a.j.  846  and  924  into 
Matarem,  and  some  assert  that  all  countries  in  which  it  is 
now^  worn  once  acknowledged  the  supremacy  of  the  lord 
of  Mendang  Kamulan.  The  gdmelan  or  musical  instru- 
ments of  the  Javans,  and  also  the  various  dramatic  exhibi- 
tions which  still  form  a  part  of  the  popular  amusements, 
were  all  introduced  into  this  kingdom  at  an  early  date,  and 
from  here  to  other  parts  of  the  country.  The  rice  block 
also,  it  is  supposed,  was  beaten  at  daylight  as  now,  and  the 
system  of  "  kentongans,"  or  tongstongs,  was  then  practised 
as  now,  the  hours  of  the  night  being  regularly  sounded  on 
this  wooden  gong. 

It  all,  however,  now  ceased,  and  Middle  Java  became 
absolutely  deserted — a  death-hke  silence  fell  over  all  these 
districts  and  its  temples.  Not  a  priest  or  a  living  soul 
remained. 

Some  may  be  in  doubt  as  to  the  true  cause  for  all  this, 
but  at  any  rate  these  are  the  historical  facts. 

1  They  probably  went  to  Bali  and  Lombok  or  Celebes,  or  all  three 
places. 

2  The  name  of  the  dagger  all  the  Javanese  carry. 


52  JAVA 


Part  III 

The  Hindu-Javanese  Period 

from  the  extinction  of  the  empire  of  mendang  kamulan, 

A.J.  927  (a.D.  1002),  DOWN  to  the  destruction  of  THE 

:bmpire  of  majapahit,  a.j.  1400  (a.d.  1475) 

Troubles  with  the  Chinese  in  Banyu  Mas  and   Tegal. — 

Maisa   Lalean,    after   destroying    his   l:raton   at   Blora   to 

prevent  it  falling  into  the  hands  of  Baka,  now  proceeded  to 

Bdnyu  Mas  and  Tegal  to  assist  the  chiefs  there  against  the 

Chinese,  who  by  their  extortions  and  oppressions  had  even 

now  become  troublesome  to  the  people  of   Java.      The 

Chinese  were  attacked  and  their  chief  killed.     From  this 

period  the  Chinese  were  allowed  to  live  anywhere  in  the 

island,  and  not,  as  formerly,  in  one  district  only.     It  was 

about  this  time  that  a  brother  of  Mdisa  Lalean,  Chitra 

Arung  Bdya,  also  called  Chamdra  Gading,  finding  himself 

deceived  by  Bdka,  collected  a  party  together  at  Jang' gala 

and  embarked  from  the  harbour  of  Madura  for  the  island 

of  Celebes,  where  he  established  himself.    He  is  the  first 

prince  of  whom  the  Bugis  make  mention. 

The  Kingdom  of  Pajajdran. — Mdisa  Lalean  now  proceeded 
with  his  followers  to  the  west,  and  finding  two  brass  cannon 
near  Bogor,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  modern  Buitenzorg, 
considered  them  an  omen  and  with  his  followers  established 
himself  here,  building  a  small  city  and  kraton  at  Pakuan,^ 
to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Pajajdraii,  taking  for  himself 
the  sovereignty  of  the  country,  under  the  title  of  Browijaya 
Mdisa  Tandrdman.  He  being  duly  acknowledged  as 
sovereign  in  West  Java,  the  new  city  soon  rose  to 
importance  and  became  the  capital  of  a  new  empire.  This 
was  about  a.j.  955  (a.d.  1030). 

^  Pakudn  was  where  the  desah  of  Batoe  Toelis  now  stands. 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD         53 

The  Empire  of  PajajIran  (Anno  Javan  1084). 

Some  accounts  date  the  empire  of  Pajajaran  only  from 
Raden  Pankas,  who  ruled  here  in  a.j.  1084,  having  followed 
liis  son  Muda  Sari,  who  w^as  a  cousin  of  the  founder  of  the 
new  dynasty. 

This  prince  had  two  sons,  the  elder  of  whom,  not  being 
content  at  home,  engaged  himself  in  foreign  commerce, 
trading  to  Ceylon,  Arabia,  and  China.  The  younger  son 
succeeded  his  father,  therefore,  in  the  year  a.j.  1112 
(a.d.  1187)  under  the  title  of  Prdhu  Munding  Sari. 

He  was,  however,  no  sooner  seated  on  his  throne  (it 
had  taken  him  seven  years  before  he  permanent^ 
estabhshed  his  authority)  than  his  brother,  who  had  become 
a  convert  to  the  Mahometan  faith  and  was  called  Haji 
Purwa,  returned  to  Java  accompanied  by  an  Arab.  Haji 
Purwa  now  tried  to  convert  his  brother  and  his  family, 
but,  failing  and  fearing  the  common  people  of  Pajajaran, 
he  proceeded  to  Cheribon,  which  was  then  a  wild  forest, 
and  there  estabhshed  himself.  Haji  Purwa  was  thus  the 
first  Javan  (Hindu)  to  become  a  Mahometan. 

The  next  prince  of  Pajajaran  was  Munding  Wangi,  who 
took  over  the  government  in  a.j.  1179  (a.d.  1254). 

This  Hindu  prince  had  a  son  by  a  concubine,  but 
in  consequence  of  the  declaration  of  a  convert  to 
Mahometanism  whom  he  had  executed  that  his  death 
would  be  avenged  whenever  the  prince  should  have  a  child 
so  born,  he  desired  to  destroy  it  at  once.  The  child  was, 
however,  of  exceeding  beauty,  and  not  being  able  to  bring 
himself  to  kill  it  ^\dth  his  ow^n  hands,  he  enclosed  it  in  a  box 
and  caused  it  to  be  thro^ii  by  one  of  his  mdntris  into  the 
river  Krdwang. 

The  box  was  carried  down  the  stream  and  was  discovered 
by  a  fisherman,  who,  finding  this  beautiful  child  inside, 
brought  it  up  as  his  own  until  it  reached  twelve  years. 


54  JAVA 

Finding  him  possessed  of  more  than  ordinary  abiHties  he 
took  him  to  Pajajdran  for  instruction,  placing  him  there 
under  the  charge  of  his  brother,  who  had  a  factory  for  iron 
and  steel  articles. 

The  boy  soon  excelled  in  all  kinds  of  iron  and  steel  work 
and  became  chief  of  the  payidi  or  ironsmiths,  a  body  of 
workmen  of  great  renown.  Whilst  there  he  constructed  an 
iron  cage  which  took  the  fancy  of  the  Prince  Munding 
Wangi,  who  was  induced  to  enter  it,  where  he  fell  asleep. 
According  to  some  accounts  the  prince  was  now  burnt  alive 
in  the  cage  ;  according  to  others  he  was  thrown,  cage  and 
all,  into  the  sea. 

The  empire  of  Pajajaran  had  now  become  very  powerful, 
stretching  through  the  Preanger  Regencies  on  the  one  side 
down  to  and  including  Jacata  ^  on  the  other. 

Since  the  fourth  century  of  the  Christian  era  Hinduism — 
that  is  to  say,  Sivaism — ^had  been  preached  in  the  Hindu 
kingdom  of  the  Bantam  district.  Later  from  an  uncertain 
date,  but  possibly  from  the  fifth  or  sixth  century,  the  same 
creed  was  preached  at  Bogoh. 

From  the  scarcity  of  Hindu  deities  met  with  in  the 
Banten  and  Prayangen  (Preanger)  districts,  it  is  clear  that 
neither  Brahminism  nor  Buddhism  ever  became  very 
popular  with  the  Sundahese  inhabitants  of  West  Java. 
Moreover,  it  must  also  be  noted  that  the  ruler  of  Banten 
was  of  a  different  creed  to  the  prince  of  Pajajdran,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  was  at  war  with  him  until  he  was  at  last 
overpowered. 

History  has  invariably  proved  that  when  two  sovereigns 
whose  dominions  are  coterminous  with  each  other  have 
been  long  on  their  thrones,  one  or  other  of  them,  either 
from  a  desire  to  increase  the  size  of  his  kingdom  or  from 
jealousy  of  a  power  so  near,  takes  aggressive  measures  or 
proceeds  through  intrigue  to  gain  gradually  power  over  the 

1  Jacatra  (or  Batavia). 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD  55 

other.  Such  was  the  case  with  the  Hindu  rulers  of  Banten 
and  Pajajdran  on  the  death  of  Munding  Wangi.  Banniak 
Wedi  was  declared  sovereign  under  the  title  of  Browijaya 
Chidng  Wandra.  His  reign,  however,  was  a  short  one.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Sri  Sang  Ratu  Devata,  the  princely  ruler 
of  the  Preanger  districts,  who  now  came  down  to  Falman. 
He  had  with  him  one  hundred  thousand  fighting  men,  and 
proclaimed  himself  Maharajah  Sunda,  King  of  Upper 
Su7ida,  to  distinguish  himself  from  the  ruler  of  Banten,  or 
Lower  Sunda. 

The  Kajah  of  Banten  declining  to  admit  his  supremacy, 
he  conquered  him  and  presented  his  brother  Baroedin  with 
the  throne,  placing  Jakatra  under  his  charge.  The  empire 
now  grew  in  wealth  and  strength,  and  a  portion  of  Sumatra 
and  Borneo  (called  from  immemorial  ages  the  Golden  Isle) 
came  under  the  rule  of  the  new  prince. 

In  A.J.  1313  (a.d.  1388)  the  zenith  of  Pajajdran' s  glory 
seems  to  have  been  reached.  The  borders  of  the  empire 
stretched  from  Bdnten  to  Tjerehon,  and  thence  to  Tegal 
and  Toegoe  (in  the  district  of  Mataram),  touching  at  this 
point  the  boundaries  of  the  empire  of  Majapahit,  which, 
according  to  the  history  of  Pajajdran,  was  founded  by  a 
prince  of  this  house,  who  had  fled  eastwards  to  escape 
punishment  for  some  misdemeanour. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  inhabitants  in  the  eastern 
districts  of  Pajajdran  began  to  show  an  inclination  towards 
Islamism.  The  prince,  hearing  of  this,  determined  to  put 
it  down  immediately,  and  shipped  an  army  from  the  coast 
lying  between  Tegal  and  Cherihon.  The  army  sailed  round 
Java  to  the  bay  of  Matdram,  but  did  not  meet  with  much 
success.  The  prince  therefore  returned,  landing  at 
Wynkoops  Bay,  which  he  called  Palaboean  Eatu,  some  say 
in  honour  of  his  spouse. 

In  A.J.  1447  (a.d.  1522)  the  Portuguese  under  a  lieutenant 
of   Albuquerque,   Henriquez   Lerne   by  name,   arrived   at 


56  JAVA 

Banten  and  found  the  Hindu  prince  there  at  war  with  the 
Mahometan  ruler  of  Cheribon,  Susuhunan  Goenoeng  Djati. 

The  Prince  of  Banten,  foreseeing  the  inevitable,  received 
the  Portuguese  with  ostentatious  and  extraordinary  signs 
of  civility  and  friendship,  proposing  an  alliance,  offering 
them  one  thousand  bags  of  pepper  yearly,  and  requesting 
them  to  build  a  fort  immediately.  By  these  means  did  he 
hope  to  overcome  the  Mahometans,  who  by  bribery, 
corruption,  and  intrigue  were  daily  gaining  converts  to 
their  rehgion  from  Banten. 

The  Portuguese  accepted  all  these  overtures  of  the 
prince  and  promised  to  return  again  as  quickly  as  they 
could.  They  were,  however,  longer  away  than  they  had 
intended,  and  on  their  return  in  a.j.  1452  (a.d.  1527)  found 
that  a  disciple  of  the  Susuhunan  of  Cheribon  had  been 
ruling  here  since  a.j.  1451. 

The  Lampong  districts  had  also  succumbed  to  the 
"  scourge  "  of  the  East,  so  that  only  Pajajdran  was  still  to 
fall  to  complete  the  Islamic  conquest  of  Java.^ 

Being  stronger  than  its  neighbours  and  situated  in  the 
hills,  Pajajdran  was  enabled  to  hold  out  longer  than  might 
have  been  anticipated. 

However,  Pajajdran  was  at  last  seriously  attacked  with  a 
tremendous  army,  and  the  Hindu  troops,  being  beaten, 
retreated  to  Padudn  or  Pakuan  (Batu  Tulis).  Here  they 
were  besieged,  and  after  several  months  were  attacked  one 
night  and  entirely  destroyed. 

This  happened  in  a.j.  1495  (a.d.  1570),  forty-four  years 
after  the  fall  of  Banten. 

With  the  fall  of  Pajajaran  Hindu  rule  in  Java  came 
finally  to  an  end.  For  a  number  of  years  already  no  fresh 
Hindu  blood  had  been  introduced  into  Java  and  the 
colonists  who  remained  had  gradually  become  one  with  the 
Javans,  who  in  accordance  with  their  apathetic  nature 

1  Majapahit  had  already  fallen  ;  see  below. 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD         57 

surrendered  themselves  to  their  new  Mahometan  conquerors 
as  easily  as  they  had  previously  done  to  the  Hindu  rajahs. 

Although  not  to  be  compared  with  its  predecessor  Men- 
dang  Kamulan  or  its  successor  Majajpahit,  Pajajdran  was 
a  great  Hindu  empire,  whose  influence  and  powder  is  not  to 
be  underrated. 

This  stone  (Batoe  Toelis)  was  inscribed  in  the  year 
A.J.  1055  (a.d.  1130)  to  commemorate  the  founding  of 
the  town  of  Pakuan,  which  was  the  capital  of  the  great 
Hindu  empire  of  Pajajaran. 

Translation  from  the  "  Kawi  "  on  the  Stone. 

"  The  opening  of  this  new  era,  and  registration  of  the  date. 
Before  the  country  was  called  Preboe  Ratu.  Later  it  was  called 
Preboe  Goeroe  Dewatw-Vhana.  Afterwards  it  was  named  Sri 
Badoega  Maharadja,  King-Emperor  at  Pakuan,  Pajajaran.  His 
Majesty  Sangrat  Dewata  was  it  that  founded  Pakuan.  He  was 
the  son  of  Rahyang  Dew  Niskala,  who  happily  died  and  was 
buried  in  Goena  Tiga,  a  grandson  of  Rahyang  Niskala  Wastoe 
Kant j ana,  who  happily  died  and  was  buried  on  Noesa  Larang. 
Yes,  he  it  was  that  made  a  town  in  the  mountain  land,  and 
surrounded  it  with  a  wall  ;  and  that  made  the  holy  lake  Rena 
Mahawidjaja.  Yes,  he  it  was.  In  the  year  five-pandawas- 
useful  origin  soil." 

The  Empire  of  Majapahit,  Anno  Javan  600  (a.d.  675). 

The  empire  of  Majapahit  is  generally  thought  to  have  been 
founded  by  Persians  and  Arabs  from  the  west  coast  of 
Sumatra,  who  formed  an  insignificant  colony  in  that  island. 
These  Arabs  and  Persians,  who  were  for  the  most  part  sea- 
rovers  and  adventurers  seeking  plunder  and  loot  wherever 
they  went,  were  established  in  Sumatra  certainly  as  early 
as  the  seventh  century. 

Frequently  calling,  as  they  did,  at  the  port  of  Grisik  and 
the  harbours  of  Madura  to  refit  and  refresh  their  vessels,  it 
is  quite  reasonable  to  suppose  that  on  the  establishment  of 


58  JAVA 

the  kingdoms  of  Jdng'gala,  Daha  Ngarawan,  and  Singa  Sari 
some  of  them  remained  in  these  parts,  to  take  advantage  of 
the  profit  to  be  won  by  trading  here.  It  was  merely  a  colony, 
however,  and  a  place  of  small  importance  until  about 
A.J.  1200  (a.d.  1275),^  when  it  suddenly  rose  into  importance 
under  Jdka  Sura,  or  Broivijaya,  under  the  name  of  Majapahit. 

In  the  Javan  language  maja  and  pahit  both  signify  bitter, 
but  the  name  of  the  new  kingdom  was  also  Manspahit, 
and  is  very  probably  derived  from  Mans  Pali,  the  ancient 
capital  of  Arjuna  Wijaya,  in  whom  the  Javans  believe 
Vishnu  to  have  been  incarnate. 

Majapahit  ^  was  situated  near  to  where  the  present  town 
of  Modjokerto  stands. 

The  Prince  Broivijaya  built  for  himself  a  large  town  in 
the  forest,  and  when  this  was  finished  he  took  for  himself 
the  title  of  Bopati  Sang  Browijaya. 

The  population  increased  very  rapidly.  The  fame,  more- 
over, of  Java  soon  began  to  reach  the  various  places  in  the 
East,  and  Kuhlai  Khan,  the  first  emperor  of  the  Mongol 
dynasty,  appears  to  have  desired  to  place  this  country 
among  his  possessions.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  he  was 
firmly  seated  upon  his  throne,  he  adopted  the  Chinese 
tradition  of  universal  dominion,  and  accordingly  sent 
envoys  all  over  the  world,  so  far  as  it  was  known,  informing 
the  various  princes  that  a  new  family  had  ascended  the 
throne  of  the  world,  and  asking  them  to  renew  their 
allegiance  and  present  tribute. 

Chinese  Envoy  from  Kuhlai  Khan  visits  Majapahit, 
A.J.  1215  (a.d.  1290). — The  envoy  Meng  Chi  and  a  suite  was 
the  representative  sent  to  Browijaya.  The  Prince  of 
Tumapel,^  which  was  on  the  river  Kali  Mas,  in  the  eastern 

^  According  to  some  accounts  the  date  was  a.j.  1158,  according  to  others 
A.J.  1301  ;   both,  however,  are  probably  alike  wrong. 

^  Sometimes  also  called  Modjopait. 

8  Tumapel  was  an  important  town  in  the  Sourabaya  district,  and  was 
probably  the  old  city  of  Jang' gala. 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD         59 

part  of  the  island,  whose  country  was  looked  on  distinc- 
tively as  Java  by  the  Chinese,  because  it  was  in  this  district 
that  they  chiefly  traded,  received  the  envoy  badly,  and  cut 
and  branded  his  face,  sending  him  ignominiously  away  with 
a  message  that  he  did  not  recognise  the  claim  of  liis  master. 

Kublai  Khan  was  not  the  man  long  to  brook  an  insult 
of  this  kind  and  decided  to  send  an  expedition  to  avenge 
the  outrage. 

Orders  were  issued  to  the  Governor  of  Fukien  directing 
him  to  send  the  Generals  Shih-pi,  Ike  Mese,  and  Kan  Using 
^vith  an  army  of  twenty  thousand  men  to  Java  to  subdue 
it.  They  were  to  proceed  in  one  thousand  ships,  to  be 
equipped  with  provisions  for  a  year,  and  to  be  supplied 
with  forty  thousand  bars  of  silver.  The  emperor  further 
gave  ten  tiger  badges,  forty  golden  badges,  and  a  hundred 
silver  badges,  together  with  a  hundred  pieces  of  silk, 
embroidered  with  gold,  for  the  purpose  of  rewarding  merit. 

When  Ike  Mese  and  his  associates  had  their  last  audience, 
the  emperor  said  to  them,  "  When  you  arrive  at  Java  you 
must  clearly  proclaim  to  the  people  there  that  the  imperial 
Government  has  already  had  intercourse  with  them  through 
envoys  sent  from  both  sides  and  has  been  in  good  harmony 
with  them,  but  that  they  have  lately  cut  the  face  of  the 
imperial  envoy  Meng  Chi  and  that  you  have  come  to  punish 
them  for  this." 

The  fleet  sailed  from  CJiuan  Chou,  a  town  near  Amoy, 
towards  the  end  of  a.d.  1292,  and  did  not  follow  the 
accustomed  course  along  the  coasts  of  Malacca  and  Sumatra, 
but  struck  out  boldly,  taking  the  shortest  road  to  its 
destination.  The  wind  was  strong  and  the  sea  very  rough,^ 
so  that  the  ships  rocked  heavily  and  the  soldiers  could  not 
eat  for  many  days.  After  passing  near  Karimata,  which  is 
sufficiently  indicative  of  the  course  that  was  taken,  they 

>  The  Chinese  Sea  during  the  months  of  November,  December,  January 
and  February  is  always  rough. 


60  JAVA 

came  to  the  island  of  Billiton,^  where  they  stopped  to 
cut  timber  to  make  smaller  craft  for  entering  the  Java 
rivers,  and  also  to  repair  their  vessels  (junks)  before 
proceeding  any  further. 

During  this  delay  the  political  agents  who  accompanied 
the  army  were  sent  to  Java,  together  with  General  Ike  Mese 
with  five  hundred  soldiers  and  ten  ships,  to  see  what  could 
be  done  by  negotiations.  The  army  soon  followed,  proceed- 
ing first  to  the  island  Karimon-Java  and  next  to  a  place  on 
the  Java  coast  called  Tuhan,  near  Bembang. 

Arrival  of  Chinese  in  Java,  a.j.  1218  (a.d.  1293). — Here 
half  the  army  was  sent  ashore  with  orders  to  march  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Kali  Mas,^  whilst  the  other  half  proceeded 
in  the  fleet  to  the  same  destination,  passing  on  its  way  the 
river  Sedayii. 

The  two  divisions  of  the  Chinese  army  met  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  towards  the  end  of  April  (a.d.  1293).  In  the 
meantime  information  had  been  obtained  that  the  Prince 
of  Tumapel,  whom  the  expedition  had  come  to  punish,  had 
been  killed  by  his  neighbour  Aji  Katang,  Prince  of  the 
Kalang  people,  who  reigned  at  Ddha.^    See  note. 

The  territory  of  Tumapel  had  been  conquered  by  Aji 
Katang,  and  only  the  son-in-law  of  the  late  Prince,  Baden 
J  aha  Sura,  or  Broicijaya,  was  still  in  arms  against  the 

1  In  February,  a.d.  1293. 

2  This  river  the  Chinese  called  Pa-tsieh-kan,  which  name  is  found  in 
that  of  the  desah  (village)  Patjekan  of  the  present  day,  situated  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Kali  Mas  about  nine  miles  from  the  sea. 

^  The  wild  Kalangs  living  in  the  Janggnla  district,  and  commanding 
the  delta  of  the  rivers  there,  when  Hinduism  spread  in  these  parts, 
no  doubt  drew  together  for  self -protection,  hence  the  large  number  of 
them  to  be  found  at  Ddha  (Kediri). 

There  were  still,  however,  at  this  time  some  of  the  Kalangs  in  this  part 
of  Java,  who  preferred  the  wild  life  of  the  forests,  and  roamed  in  the 
Tenger  and  Idjen  mountains  in  absolute  nakedness. 

During  the  reign  of  Sultan  Ageng  of  Mataram  all  the  Kalangs  were 
forced  to  reside  near  towns,  and  some  of  them  became  the  slaves  of  the 
Javan  rulers. 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD         61 

invader  {Aji  Katang)  and  defending  himself  at  his  capital, 
Majapahit. 

It  is  related  that  Browijaya  offered  to  submit  to  the 
Mongol  generals  and  sent  some  trusty  followers,  who  gave 
the  necessary  information  about  the  roads,  rivers,  and 
resources  of  the  country. 

Aji  Katang,  the  Prince  of  Ddha,  was  master  of  the  delta 
of  Surabaya  also,  and  the  Mongols  found  there  an  army 
which  tried  opposing  them.  These  were  troops  of  Ddha 
or  others  who  had  submitted  to  them. 

The  Mongol  generals  accepted  the  assistance  of  the  Prince 
of  Majapahit,  Browijaya,  and  soon  fought  their  first  battle 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Kali  Mas,  where  the  troops  from 
Ddha  were  easilj^  routed. 

These  troops,  which  were  not  under  the  command  of  Aji 

Katang  himself,  but  of  one  of  his  ministers,  retired  into  the 

interior  and  joined  the  army  of  Aji  Katang  before  Majapahit. 

Browijaya  at  last  sent  word  that  he  was  sorely  pressed 

by  his  foe,  and  asked  for  assistance. 

The  Mongol  army  accordingly  marched  in  that  direction, 
and  a  strong  body  of  troops  was  sent  ahead  to  encourage 
their  allies. 

A  battle  was  fought  under  the  walls  of  Majapahit ;  the 
army  of  Ddha  was  defeated  and  thrown  back  into  the 
mountains  south  of  that  place.^ 

Not  satisfied  with  the  success,  the  victors  now  marched 
on  Ddha,  which  was  attacked  and  captured,  Aji  Katang 
being  killed.^ 

All  resistance  being  now  at  an  end,  and  the  Kings  of 
Timiapel  and  Ddha  being  dead,  it  was  now  Baden 
Browijaya' s  turn  to  pay  for  the  services  which  the  Mongol 

1  The  battle  lasted  from  6  a.m.  to  2  p.m.,  and  the  army  of  Dalia  lost 
five  thousand  men,  very  many  throwing  themselves  into  the  river  and 
perishing  there. 

'  According  to  a  Balinese  manuscript,  Aji  Katang  was  lulled  by  one  of 
the  Chinese  generals. 


62  JAVA 

army  had  rendered  him.  As  his  opponent,  the  King  of 
Ddha — his  great  enemy,  who  had  held  so  much  power  in 
these  parts — was  no  more,  his  force  scattered,  he  did  not 
require  their  services  any  more  and  sought  to  avoid  his 
obhgations.  He  therefore  explained  that  he  must  return 
to  Majapahit  and  prepare  adequate  presents  for  the  emperor 
by  way  of  the  tribute,  which  Kublai  Khan  so  much  desired. 
He  was  therefore  allowed  to  return  and  given  an  escort  of 
Chinese  soldiers.  On  the  way  to  his  capital,  however,  he 
threw  off  the  mask,  the  Chinese  escort  was  treacherously 
massacred,  and  with  his  own  troops  he  at  once  began 
hostilities  against  his  former  alHes. 

By  this  time  the  Mongol  generals  had  found  out  how 
difficult  it  was  to  carry  on  war  in  these  parts,  and  did  not 
consider  it  advisable  to  begin  a  new  struggle,  so,  taking 
with  them  the  more  important  prisoners  they  had  captured 
from  Ddha,  and  whatever  treasure  they  could  collect,  and 
their  remaining  forces,  consisting  of  not  more  than  ten 
thousand  (six  thousand  having  been  killed  and  three 
thousand  having  died  of  the  diseases  of  the  country),  they 
embarked  in  their  ships  and  left  the  island  after  a  stay  of 
four  months,  reaching  Chuan  CJiou  in  sixty-eight  days.^ 

For  having  lost  so  many  men  the  emperor  ordered  the 
senior  general,  Shih-pi,  to  receive  seventeen  lashes  and 
confiscated  a  third  of  his  property.  As  his  age  (86  when 
he  died  shortly  after),  however,  was  great,  his  property 
was  eventually  restored  to  him  and  he  was  gradually  raised 
to  the  highest  rank. 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  how  a  Bahnese  historian 
describes  the  affair  as  follows  : — 

"  Sri  Laksemdna,  the  King  of  Tatar, ^  being  informed  that 
Browijaya  had  attacked  Kediri,  forthwith  sent  a  letter  to  him 

1  The  Javans  commemorated  their  victory  by  raising  a  stone,  which  is 
still,  I  believe,  to  be  seen. 

2  A  Javan  misconception  for  Tartar.  Raffles  could  never  make  out  who 
the  King  of  Tartar  was. 


THE   HINDU- JAVANESE   PERIOD         63 

saying  that  he  would  co-operate  with  the  Majapahit  army- 
provided  Browijaya  would  be  on  good  terms  with  him.  Browijaya 
on  receiving  this  intelhgence  was  very  much  dehghted,  and 
accordingly  returned  a  letter  of  approbation  to  Laksemdna. 

"  Laksemdna  and  his  followers  then  joined  Browijaya  and 
fought  several  battles  with  Jdya  Kdtong,  the  King  of  Kediri,  in 
which  a  great  number  of  men  as  well  as  chiefs  were  killed  on  both 
sides. 

"  In  the  heat  of  the  action  Jdya  Kdtong  and  Laksemdna  met, 
and  a  fierce  encounter  took  place  between  these  chiefs.  Jdya 
Kdtong  threw  his  javelin  at  Laksemdna,  but  missed  him,  and 
Laksemdna,  in  return,  struck  him  on  the  breast  with  his  poisoned 
spear  and  killed  him  on  the  spot. 

"  The  pdteh  [of  Kediri]  and  the  whole  force  of  Kediri,  perceiving 
that  their  king  was  fallen,  immediately  surrendered.  Browijaya 
then  eagerly  went  into  the  Kaddton^  and  was  received  by  his 
faithful  wife  [who  was  a  sister  of  Jdya  Kdtong  and  had  been 
abducted  by  him  after  her  marriage  to  Browijaya]. 

"  They  embraced  with  tears  of  joy,  and  Browijaya  was  so 
enraptured  at  recovering  her  that  without  taking  further  notice 
of  the  Kaddton  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Majapahit. 

"  He  invited  the  King  of  Tatar  to  visit  him.  On  his  arrival 
Browijaya  received  him  with  every  attention  and  made  him  a 
present  of  a  beautiful  virgin. 

"  Laksemdna  remained  for  some  time  at  Majapahit,  during 
which  Browijaya  gave  him  two  or  three  grand  entertainments. 
He  afterwards  embarked  on  board  of  his  own  vessel,  and  returned 
to  his  kingdom  of  Tatar. 

"  Browijaya  with  his  pdteh  reigned  at  Majapahit  and  governed 
the  whole  island  of  Java,  and  his  people  were  very  happy." 

Browijaya  now  assumed  the  title  of  Bitara,^  which  gave 
him  power  over  all  sultans,  rajahs,  and  maharajahs  in  Java 
and  the  surrounding  islands,  the  chiefs  of  whom  all  acknow- 
ledged his  supremacy,  and  held  their  domains  by  virtue  of 
special  authority  and  warrant  from  him.  Even  the  proud 
King  of  the  great  Malayan  capital  in  Sumatra,  Menang 
Kaban,  who  claimed  his  descent  from  the  Macedonian  hero 

^  The  king's  palace. 

2  Bitara,  or  Batara,  is  a  contraction  of  Avatara,  or  "  the  incarnation." 


64  JAVA 

Alexander  the  Great,  acknowledged  the  Bitdra  of  Majapahit 
and  swore  fealty  to  him,  although  this  was  not  until 
A.J.  1268  (a.d.  1343). 

The  country  around  Majapahit  now  settled  down,  and 
trading  adventurers  crowded  the  capital,  coming  from  all 
parts  of  the  East. 

The  manufacture  of  arms  of  various  descriptions  was  at 
this  time  brought  to  the  highest  pitch  of  perfection  at 
Majapahit,  and  the  first  Damascene  krises  were  made  by 
the  pandi  (smiths),  who  came  here  from  Pajajaran,  a 
kingdom  which  always  was  first  to  make  any  of  the  manu- 
factured articles  Java  produced.  These  pandis  became 
distinguished  men  at  Majapahit,  and  were  so  highly  thought 
of  that  they  were  appointed  to  the  charge  of  districts  each 
with  a  thousand  chdcha  {tjatjar,  or  family). 

The  following  is  a  description  of  Majapahit : — 

Vessels  coming  from  other  parts  usually  called  first  at 
Tuhan,  then  at  Gresik,  and  lastly  at  Surabaya.  The  palace 
of  the  hitdra  was  surrounded  by  a  brick  wall  more  than 
thirty  feet  high  and  a  hundred  feet  long  at  each  side.  It 
had  a  double  gate  and  was  clean  and  very  well  kept. 

The  houses  inside  Majapahit  stood  thirty  to  forty  feet 
from  the  ground  ;  they  had  a  floor  of  boards,  covered  with 
fine  rattan-mats  or  rush  mats  of  various  descriptions,  on 
which  the  people  sat  cross-legged  in  Hindu  fashion.  The 
roofs  of  the  houses  were  made  of  boards  of  hard  wood,  spht 
into  pieces  like  tiles. 

The  dwellings  of  the  people  were  covered  with  straw,  and 
in  every  house  there  was  a  stone-built  store-room,  three  or 
four  feet  high,  for  holding  their  goods,  on  which  they  always 
sat.^ 

The  hitara  went  bare-headed  or  wore  a  cap  with  golden 
leaves  and  flowers  ;  he  w^ore  no  garment  on  the  upj^er  part 
of  his  body,  but  around  the  lower  part  he  had  a  flowered 

*  A  Hindu  custom  of  the  present  day  is  to  sit  on  the  tops  of  their  houses. 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD  65 

sarong,  tied  with  a  flowered  silk  gauze  or  linen  around  his 
loins,  called  a  slendang  ;  thrust  into  this  was  a  short  dagger, 
called  a  kris.  His  feet  were  always  bare.  When  going  out 
he  always  sat  on  an  elephant,  or  in  a  cart  drawn  by  oxen. 

The  men  of  Majapahit  wore  their  hair  hanging  down,  but 
the  women  wore  theirs  in  a  knot  ;  they  wore  a  short  jacket 
and  a  sarong  round  the  lower  part  of  the  body.  They  also 
carried  a  kris  in  their  girdle,  this  being  the  custom  of  all  the 
males  of  three  years  and  upwards. 

Death  seems  to  have  been  the  only  punishment  for  all 
offences,  great  and  small.  The  culprit  had  his  hands  tied 
behind  his  back  with  a  thin  piece  of  rattan,  and  was  led 
away  a  few  paces  and  stabbed  with  a  kris  between  his  ribs 
once  or  twice  until  dead.  As  may  be  readily  imagined  in 
a  city  with  a  population  counting  several  hundreds  of 
thousands,  not  a  day  passed  without  one  or  more  death 
sentences  being  carried  out. 

Men  and  women  alike  were  continually  chewing  penang, 
with  betel  and  lime. 

In  Majapahit  there  were  practically  four  divisions  of 
people  :  the  Hindu-Javans,  who  had  the  command  of  the 
place,  the  Arabs,  the  Chinese,  and  the  common  natives. 
The  latter  have  been  described  as  ugly  and  uncouth,  who 
went  about  with  uncombed  hair,  naked  feet,  and  believed 
firmly  in  devils.  These  people  ate  snakes,  ants  and  all 
kinds  of  insects  and  worms,  dipped  only  for  a  moment  or 
so  in  the  fire ;  and  the  dogs  they  kept  in  their  houses  ate 
and  slept  with  them. 

There  used  to  be  a  yearly  assembly  held  at  Majapahit 
called  the  *'  Meeting  of  Bamboo  Spears."  It  took  place  in 
November,  when  the  hitara  made  his  wife  or  ratu  ride  in  a 
pagoda  carriage  before  him,  himself  following  in  an  ordinary 
cart.  This  pagoda  carriage  was  more  than  ten  feet  high 
with  windows  on  all  sides,  and  was  drawn  by  horses.  At 
the  meeting  place  a  square  was  formed,  and  every  man  held 

J. — VOL.    I.  F 


66  JAVA 

a  bamboo  spear  with  an  iron  point.  Each  combatant  had 
his  wife  and  concubine  with  him,  armed  with  a  stick  three 
feet  long,  and  stood  between  them. 

At  a  signal  given  on  a  drum,  beaten  first  slowly  and  then 
quickly,  two  men  advanced  with  their  lances  and  began 
fighting.  After  three  bouts  the  wives  separated  them  with 
their  sticks,  calling  out  Larah,  larah,  larah,^  upon  which 
they  stopped  fighting.  If  one  was  killed  in  the  fight  the 
hitara  ordered  the  victor  to  pay  a  golden  coin  to  the  relations 
of  the  deceased,  whose  wife  now  followed  the  conqueror, 
who  was  obliged  to  look  after  her. 

For  money  the  better  inhabitants  used  Chinese  copper 
coins  of  various  dynasties,  all  of  which  were  current  here, 
besides  gold  and  silver  brought  by  the  Arabs. 

There  were  daily  markets  at  which  fowls,  goats,  fish, 
fruit,  and  vegetables  of  all  kinds  were  sold,  being  both 
plentiful  and  cheap. 

Some  of  the  Javans  were  very  rich,  and  grew  sugar-cane 
and  other  produce. 

The  sugar-cane  is  described  as  having  a  white  cover,  and 
being  very  thick  and  in  length  twenty  to  thirty  feet. 

Amongst  the  fruit  mentioned  at  this  time  were  plantains, 
cocoanuts,  sugar-cane,  pomegranate,  the  capsules  of  lotus, 
mangostine,  and  water-melons.  We  are  told  that  besides 
rice  the  country  produced  sugar,  sesamum,  and  yellow 
beans,  but  no  harley  or  wheat. 

The  inhabitants  traded  in  sapan-wood,  sulphur,  rhinoceros 
horns,  diamonds,  white  sandal-wood,  lignum  aloes,  nutmegs, 
long  pepper,  ordinary  pepper,  steel,  tortoise-shell,  prepared 
and  unprepared  gold,  silver  and  ivory.  Of  birds  they  had 
at  Majapahit  red,  green,  yellow  and  white  parrots,  and  the 
gracula  religiosa  (beo),  which  exactly  imitated  human  speech. 
There  were  also  cockatoos,  green  and  coloured  pigeons,  and 
others. 

1  "  Probably  the  Javanword  larah,  meaning  to  "  pull  "  or  "  draw  back." 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD         67 

Pigs,  goats,  cows,  fowls,  ducks,  and  horses  were  reared 
but  no  donkeys  or  geese.^ 

Amongst  animals  they  had  elephants,  tigers,  rhinoceros, 
wild  boars,  white  stags,  and  white  monkeys. 

When  a  man  married  he  went  first  to  the  house  of  the 
bride  to  conclude  the  marriage,  and  three  days  afterwards 
he  brought  his  wife  home,  on  which  occasion  the  relations 
of  the  bridegroom  beat  copper  and  bamboo  drums  and 
copper  gongs,  blew  on  cocoanut  shells,  and  fired  off  guns  ; 
whilst  a  number  of  men  armed  with  small  swords  surrounded 
them. 

The  bride  had  her  hair  hanging  down  loose,  whilst  the 
upper  part  of  her  body  and  feet  were  naked.  Bound  her 
waist  was  fastened  a  slendang  of  green  cloth,  and  on  her 
head  was  a  string  of  golden  beads  ;  whilst  on  her  wrists  she 
carried  bracelets  of  gold  and  silver  nicely  ornamented. 

The  relations,  friends,  and  neighbours  brought  penang 
and  betel,  whilst  they  adorned  a  little  ship  with  garlands  of 
flowers,  carrying  it  along  with  the  newly-married  couple  as 
a  form  of  congratulation.  Arriving  at  the  house,  they  beat 
drums  and  gongs  and  made  merry  for  several  days,  after 
which  they  went  away. 

Their  burial  rites  were  peculiar  and  rather  disgusting. 
When  the  father  or  mother  of  a  family  was  about  to  die,  the 
children  asked  them  whether  after  their  death  they  preferred 
to  be  eaten  by  the  pariah  dogs,  to  be  burnt,  or  to  be  thrown 
into  the  water  ;  and  their  wishes  were  invariably  strictly 
followed  out.  If  it  was  their  wish  to  be  eaten  by  dogs,  the 
body  was  carried  to  the  sea-shore  or  into  the  forests,  where 
a  number  of  dogs  soon  collected.  If  the  flesh  of  the  corpse 
was  eaten  completely,  it  was  considered  very  propitious, 
but  if  not,  the  children  wept  and  lamented  and  the  remains 
were  thrown  into  the  water. 

When  rich  people,  chiefs  or  men  of  rank,  died,  however, 

1  The  Portuguese  were  the  first  to  introduce  geese. 

F    2 


68  JAVA 

their  favourite  concubines  swore  before  their  master's  death 
that  they  would  go  with  him.  On  the  day  of  the  burial 
the  corpse  was  taken  out  of  the  house  and  a  high  wooden 
scaffolding  was  erected,  at  the  foot  of  which  wood  was  piled 
up  in  a  large  heap,  and  when  the  fire  burnt  fiercely  two  or 
three. of  the  concubines,  with  their  heads  bedecked  with 
flowers  and  their  body  decorated  with  cloths  of  various 
colours,  mounted  on  the  scaffold  and,  weeping  and  dancing 
for  some  little  time,  jumped  into  the  fire  and  were  burnt  with 
their  lord.^ 

The  people  of  Majapahit  imported  porcelain,  muslin, 
flowered  and  plain  silk,  glass  beads,  from  China,  perfumes  and 
essential  oils  from  Arabia,  spices  from  the  Moluccas,  and 
diamonds  and  gold  from  Borneo.  The  trade  done  in  these 
articles  was  considerable.  Of  industries  there  were  several, 
which  employed  thousands  of  the  inhabitants. 

Among  the  more  important,  the  making  of  iron  and  steel 
articles  took  a  leading  place.  The  pandi  or  workers  in  these 
articles  were  almost  considered  the  supporters  of  the  empire, 
and  the  headmen  were  not  only  appointed  administrators 
of  districts,  as  already  mentioned,  but  also  enjoyed  many 
privileges  not  granted  to  the  ordinary  inhabitants.^ 

There  were  also  men  who  painted  birds,  animals,  insects, 
and  men,  etc.,  on  paper ;  the  paper  was  like  a  scroll,  and 
was  fixed  between  two  wooden  rollers  three  feet  high.  The 
men  who  made  them  sat  on  the  ground  and,  unrolling  the 
pictures,  explained  in  a  loud  voice  what  thej''  represented, 
the  spectators  sitting  around  and  attentively  listening  to  the 
story  woven  round  each  picture.  These  pictures  were  also 
a  considerable  recreation  to  the  poorer  people,  especially 
if  the  teller  happened  to  be  an  adept  in  the  art  of  narration. 

1  Until  quite  lately  a  like  custom  was  practised  on  the  death  of  the 
princes  of  Bali. 

2  On  the  destruction  of  3Iajapahit  the  numerous  pandis  were  dispersed 
over  the  eastern  districts  of  Java,  Madura  and  Bali  forming  separate 
establishments  under  their  respective  chiefs. 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD         69 

Each  listener  was  supposed  to  pay  copper  cash  to  the  painter 
or  owner  of  the  picture  before  taking  his  departure. 

The  people  were  also  engaged  in  rearing  silkworms  and 
making  silk  ;   they  wove  a  thick  yellow  silk. 

From  the  kapas  bush  ^  they  wove  a  very  good  cotton 
cloth,  which  the  tailors  made  into  coats  and  sarongs. 

A  portion  of  the  population  did  nothing  else  but  make 
salt,  which  was  obtained  by  boiling  sea-water. 

The  musical  instruments  of  the  country  consisted  of  the 
gamelan,  which  was  played  by  men  specially  instructed  and 
trained,  a  transversal  flute,  drums  and  wooden  boards.  To 
this  music  young  girls  were  taught  to  dance. 

In  case  of  illness  the  people  took  no  medicine,  but  prayed 
to  their  gods  and  to  Buddha  to  be  made  better. 

When  the  moon  was  at  its  full  and  the  night  was  clear 
the  streets  of  Majajjahit  were  frequently  filled  with  music, 
the  native  women  in  parties  of  twenty  or  thirty  going  arm 
in  arm  into  the  moonshine  with  an  old  woman  at  their  head. 
They  visited  the  houses  of  their  relations  and  of  the  rich 
and  great  people.  The  headwoman  would  lead  off  by 
singing  the  first  line  of  some  native  song,  after  which  all 
the  others  joined  in.  Their  reward  was  copper  cash,  which 
in  good  times  was  showered  upon  them. 

During  the  month  of  June  the  rich  people  went  in  boats 
on  the  rivers  for  longer  or  shorter  periods  for  recreation, 
whilst  in  November  they  went  to  the  mountains  to  divert 
themselves.  They  were  carried  there  by  strong  mountain 
ponies,  or  else  in  mountain  chairs,  each  borne  by  four  men 
with  two  as  a  relay. 

When  the  hitara  went  out  of  his  palace  in  state  he  wore 
golden  bells,  a  silk  robe  and  shoes  of  leather,  and  rode  upon 
an  elephant.  He  was  followed  by  five  to  seven  hundred 
soldiers.  When  the  people  saw  the  hitara  they  crouched 
down  and  turned  their  heads  away  until  he  had  passed. 

*  Cotton  bush. 


70  JAVA 

The  hitara  attended  daily  to  the  affairs  of  state,  sitting  on  a 
square  couch  and  receiving  the  various  officials  who  called 
to  see  him.  These  officials  on  leaving  his  presence  saluted 
him  three  times.  Three  of  his  sons,  called  pdnggerans,  were 
viceroys,  and  with  four  high  functionaries  assisted  the 
hitara  in  ruling  the  empire. 

These  viceroys  and  high  functionaries  received  no  pay, 
but  were  entitled  to  a  proportion  of  the  products  of  the  soil 
and  to  free  labour  for  their  own  lands. 

There  were  three  hundred  civil  functionaries  who  kept 
the  revenue  books  at  Majapahit.  There  were  also  one 
thousand  officials  who  were  responsible  for  looking  after  the 
walls  of  the  towns,  the  moat,  the  treasury,  and  the  army. 

The  general  of  the  army  received  every  half-year  ten 
taels  of  gold,  equal  to  six  or  between  six  and  seven  hundred 
guilders.  There  were  thirty  thousand  regular  soldiers,  who 
were  paid  half-yearly  according  to  their  rank. 

The  actual  government  of  the  empire  was  almost  wholly 
in  the  hands  of  the  tln-ee  viceroys,  who  had  each  his  own 
province  to  administrate.  They,  however,  divided  their 
provinces  up  into  regencies  or  residencies  (as  they  are  now 
called),  with  a  hopati  at  the  head  of  each,  which  were  again 
subdivided  into  small  districts  and  sections,  each  under  a 
raden,  demang,  or  lura,  and  lastly  below  these  came  the 
kuwuls  and  patmggis. 

The  superintendents  of  trade  received  one  chien  (Chinese 
for  ounce)  of  gold  for  every  two  piculs  of  padi  (rice  in  ear) 
they  weighed. 

Their  weights  were  the  cati,^  picid,^  and  kohang.  The 
measure  of  content  was  a  section  of  bamboo  and  called  a 
kulak,  being  equal  to  about  one  pint. 

It  is  remarkable  how  well  administered  in  every  way  was 
the  ancient  Javanese  Empire. 

*  Roughly  one  pound. 

"  One  picuJ  (roughly)  =  100  catties,  or  100  pounds  avoirdupois. 


THE   HIXDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD         71 

The  Remains  of  Majapahit  as  they  are  to-day. — The  site 
of  Majapahit  is  nowadaj^s  surrounded  by  a  wood,  and  such 
is  the  veneration  of  the  natives  for  all  that  remains  of  the 
capital  of  their  ancestors  that  they  believe  the  birds  sing 
sweeter  here  than  anywhere  else  in  Java.  On  a  mound 
stands  the  ruined  gateway  of  the  city  walls.  The  tower 
on  each  side,  now  sunken,  was  at  one  time  forty  feet  high. 
They  are  built  of  red  brick  cemented  together,  and  are 
about  ten  feet  apart.  On  a  level  with  the  ground  may 
still  be  seen  the  sockets  in  which  the  pivots  of  the  gate 
turned,  much  worn  from  constant  use.  The  tower  on  the 
right  had  on  one  side  an  upper  and  a  lower  abutment,  the 
angles  being  of  brick  and  dovetailed.  Below  was  a  niche, 
in  which  probably  a  figure  was  formerly  placed.  The  wall 
is  continued  from  this  gateway,  and  is  supposed  to  have 
been  not  less  than  ten  miles  in  circumference,  but  little  of 
it  now  remains  perfect.^ 

The  tower  on  the  left  hand  has  been  grown  over  by 
creepers,  and  the  roots  of  a  tall  tree  are  entrained  whose 
outspread  branches  cover  the  gateway  like  an  enormous 
sunshade.  There  is  also  still  to  be  seen  the  artificial  lake 
and  bathing  place  of  the  ancient  kings  and  queens  of  Maja- 
pahit. The  lake  was  oblong,  with  a  circumference  of  half  a 
mile.  The  walls  w^ere  four  feet  in  thickness  and  consisted 
of  solid  masonry.  At  the  two  farthest  angles  are  the  ruins 
of  two  small  stone  houses.  At  the  head  of  the  lake  is  a 
dilapidated  flight  of  steps.  In  the  labyrinths  of  the  jungle 
are  the  pillars  of  the  palace,  which  must  have  attained 
magnificent  proportions.  In  ancient  da^js  no  one  was  ever 
allowed  near  the  lake  or  its  precincts  except  the  body- 
guards, and  no  one  was  ever  allowed  to  bathe  in  it  except 
the  hitara  and  his  wives  and  concubines. 

1  The  surrounding  sugar  factories  in  this  neighbourhood  are  said  to  have 
helped  towards  completing  the  ruin  by  taking  away  the  bricks  and  stones 
for  building. 


f2  JAVA 

Near  by  is  the  old  cemetery,  covering  about  three  and  a 
half  acres,  and  consisting  of  four  large  and  two  small  courts 
varying  from  thirty  to  thirty-five  feet  square. 

Most  of  these  courts  are  filled  with  tombs.  Each  square 
is  surrounded  by  a  brick  wall  of  great  thickness  with 
passages  and  doors  leading  from  one  to  the  other.  This 
is  the  only  really  ancient  cemetery  known  of  in  Java. 

Vessels  trading  with  the  empire  of  Majapahit  sometimes 
anchored  at  Yortan,  which  in  former  times  was  a  trading 
port  at  the  southern  arm  of  the  river  Brantas,  near  the 
present  town  of  Bangil,  in  the  residency  of  Pasoeroean.  It 
has  been  described  as  a  town  in  a  flat  country  with  a  fortress 
built  of  stone.  The  trade  is  said  to  have  been  very  pros- 
perous, the  Chinese  owning  a  number  of  shops.  Some  of 
the  houses  were  handsome  and  adorned  with  yellow  and 
green  tiles. 

Behind  Yortan  the  mountains  were  covered  with  bamboo 
forests,  and  the  melati^  grew  wild  in  great  quantities.  These 
mountains  at  the  time  of  Majapahit  were  the  home  of 
thousands  of  the  original  inhabitants  of  Java.  They  went 
naked,  and  spent  their  time  hunting  wild  deer,  apes  and 
monkeys,  and  had  great  result  for  their  skill.  For  food 
they  planted  beans,  and  they  never  came  down  to  the 
plains. 

In  these  early  days  Gresik  (Grisee)  was  the  headquarters 
of  the  rich  Cantonese,  and  there  were  at  least  one  thousand 
families.  The  Javans  came  in  large  numbers  from  the 
whole  archipelago  to  trade  here.  The  principal  trade  was 
in  golden  articles  and  precious  stones  from  Borneo,  and 
spices  from  the  Molucca  Islands. 

The  Chinese  sold  all  sorts  of  foreign  goods  in  large  quan- 
tities, and  are  said  to  have  become  rich  very  soon  after  their 
arrival. 

Eastwards,  at  a  distance  of  seven  miles,  came  the  town 

'  A  Bweet-smelling  flower. 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD         73 

of  Surabaya ;  here  also  there  were  not  less  than  one 
thousand  Chinese  families,  as  well  as  a  number  of  very  rich 
Javans.  Surabaya  was  not,  however,  such  a  large  town 
then  as  Gresik. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  river  Brantas  there  is  an  island  that 
was  covered  then  with  luxuriant  vegetation,  where  it  is  said 
a  large  number  of  long-tailed  monkeys  once  lived. 

A  black  old  male  was  their  chief,  and  an  old  native  woman 
was  always  at  his  side.  The  people  prepared  rice,  fruit  and 
cakes,  and  gave  them  to  the  monkeys,  who  came  down  from 
the  trees  to  eat. 

The  old  monkey  ate  first,  followed  by  the  young  ones.^ 

Trouble  arose  a. J.  1221  (a.d.  1296)  between  the  empires 
of  Pajajaran  and  Majapahit  on  account  of  considerable 
emigrations  of  the  pandi  or  ironsmiths  from  the  former  to 
the  latter. 

This  was  owing  to  heavy  demands  made  upon  them  by 
the  Rajah  of  Pajajaran  and  to  the  much  better  conditions 
under  which  they  worked  at  Majapaliit. 

The  climax  was  reached  when  eighty  pandi  and  their 
families  deserted  their  country.  They  were  pursued  as 
far  as  the  river  Panidli,  in  Brebes,  but  managed  to  effect 
their  escape,  and  were  received  with  open  arms  at  MajapaJiit. 

A  demand  was  made  for  the  pandi  to  be  delivered  up, 
but,  no  notice  being  taken  of  it,  the  army  of  Pajajaran 
moved  to  Batang,  whilst  the  forces  of  Majapahit  encamped 
by  the  side  of  the  mountain  Uiigdrang,^  where  there  was  a 
desah  of  that  name.  The  next  move  of  the  Pajajaran  army 
was  to  Kaliwungu,  where  a  large  camp  was  formed. 

Eventually  an  indecisive  battle  was  fought  at  this  spot, 
after  which  it  was  agreed  between  the  two  chiefs  to  make 

This  story  of  the  monkeys  having  a  chief  is  true.     At  the  present  day 
these  monkeys  are  found  near  Malang,  and  on  the  shores  of  a  small  lake 
called  Blue  Water,  near  Pasoeroean. 
'  Oenarang. 


74  JAVA 

a  treaty  and  draw  new  lines  of  demarcation  between  the 
two  countries. 

The  kingdom  of  Balamhdngan  ^  became  of  immense 
importance  at  this  time,  and  the  hitara  divided  it  up  into 
several  districts,  under  the  sovereignty  of  Majapahit.  The 
towns  of  Besuki  and  Panurukan  also  rose  into  importance 
under  the  beneficent  rule  of  the  great  empire,  and  soon 
became  centres  for  trading  with  a  number  of  Chinese  settlers. 

The  hitara  having  conquered  and  become  master  of 
practically  the  whole  of  the  eastern  archipelago,  the  chiefs 
of  which  had  concluded  treaties  with  him  and  acknowledged 
his  authority,  now  desired  to  bring  the  Malayan  peninsula 
with  its  capitals  of  Singapura  and  JoJior  under  his  control. 

There  Avas  a  large  population  here,  whose  princes  had 
groAvn  rich  by  piracy  and  whose  subjects  lived  by  the  same 
means. 

An  expedition  was  therefore  prepared  and  sent  there,  but 
failed  to  achieve  the  object  desired  by  the  bitara  and 
returned  empty-handed.^ 

A  second  expedition  far  stronger  than  the  first  was 
therefore  immediately  equipped  and  with  a  large  number  of 
soldiers  despatched  with  instructions  not  to  return  unless 
successful. 

The  troops  were  landed  at  Singapura,  and  after  a  severe 
engagement  destroyed  the  town  and  put  all  its  inhabitants 
to  the  sword,  and  until  the  fall  of  Majapahit  Singapura 
remained  tributary  to  it. 

The  name  of  Majapahit  never  stood  so  high  among  the 

'  This  town  is  no  longer  found  on  tlie  map,  having  been  swallowed  up 
by  the  jungle  about  a.d.  1700  after  war  and  disease  had  depopulated  it. 
About  A.J.  1240  the  districts  of  Damar  Wulan  (near  Sourabaya),  Poerboling 
(in  Banju  Mas)  and  Probolinggo  (Probolingo)  are  mentioned  for  the  first 
time  in  the  Javan  histories. 

2  In  A.D.  1252  Singapura.  was  unsuccessfully  attacked  by  the  King  of 
Majapahit  or  the  King  of  Japara,  probably  the  latter.  This,  however, 
drove  the  Malays  to  form  another  kingdom  further  west  at  Malacca,  a 
spot  long  before  known  to  the  ancients. 


THE   HINDU- JAVANESE   PERIOD         75 

surrounding  nations  of  the  East  than  at  this  moment,  nor 
was  there  any  time  when  its  authority  was  more  extensively 
acknowledged  or  its  power  more  feared.  The  Eajas  of 
Makassar,  Bali,  Goa,  Banda,  Ende,  Timor,  Manila  Sulu,  and 
Ternat  had  learnt  what  it  meant  to  thwart  the  hitara's 
will,  however  slightly.  The  empire  seemed  in  fact 
invulnerable. 

The  dregs  of  all  nations,  however,  having  fled  from  wars 
or  been  obliged  to  desert  their  country  and  attracted  by 
the  chances  of  becoming  quickly  rich,  began  to  congregate 
in  large  numbers  at  Majapahit.  Among  these  were 
numerous  Arabs,  who  with  their  peculiar  faculty  of  grasping 
a  situation  soon  perceived  the  opportunities  that  lay  to 
hand  from  the  usurpation  of  such  a  country  through 
proselytisation,  and  the  seed  was  sown  whose  roots  were 
shortly  to  enfold  the  very  foundations  of  this  mighty 
empire  and  bring  it  utterly  to  ruin. 

Introduction  of  the  MaJioyneta^i  Religion,  Anno  Javan  1300 
(a.d.  1375). — This  new  factor  was  the  introduction  of  the 
Mahometan  religion. 

Javan  writers  relate  the  episode  as  follows  : — 

"  Mulana  Ibrahim,  a  celebrated  Pandita  of  Arabia,  a  cousin 
of  the  Raja  of  Chermen  (a  country  of  Sabrang^),  had  established 
himself  with  other  Mahometans  at  Desah  Leran,^  in  Jang' gala, 
when  the  Raja  of  Chermen  arrived  at  Java. 

"  This  prince,  who  was  a  Mahometan,  perceiving  with  regret 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  large  and  populous  island  of  Java  were 
still  heathens,  resolved  to  attempt  the  conversion  of  the  King  of 
Majapahit,  Prabu  Angka  Wijaya,  and  with  this  view  to  present 
him  with  his  maiden  daughter  in  marriage.  Embarking  with  his 
daughter  and  all  his  relatives  and  followers  of  every  description, 
he  reached  Jang'gdla^  in  safety,  and,  landing  at  the  Desah  Leran, 

1  Sumatra,  where  the  Mahometans  had  already  been  established  for  at 
least  two  hundred  years. 

^  A  desah  near  Gresik  or  Grissee. 

3  The  districts  south  and  west  of  Majapahit  were  still  known  under  their 
ancient  name  of  Janggala. 


76  JAVA 

he  immediately  built  a  mosque  there  and  in  a  short  time  succeeded 
in  obtaining  many  converts. 

"  The  Raja  of  Chermen  deputed  his  son  Sidek  Mahomed  to 
proceed  to  Majapahit  and  apprise  the  king  of  his  intended  visit. 

"  He  afterwards  set  out  himself  with  all  his  party,  among 
whom  were  forty  holy  men,  his  relations,  who  had  come  with 
him  from  Sabrang.^ 

"  The  King  of  Majapahit  came  forth  and  met  Raja  Chermen  at 
the  confines,  where  they  both  remained  under  a  pasang  grahan^ 
erected  for  their  accommodation. 

"  Angka  Wijaya  evinced  the  greatest  respect  for  Raja  Chermen 
and  treated  him  with  every  mark  of  hospitality. 

"  The  Raja  of  Chermen  now  presented  the  King  of  Majapahit 
with  a  pomegranate  in  a  basket,  in  order  that  by  his  acceptance 
or  rejection  of  it  he  might  ascertain  whether  or  not  he  would 
become  a  convert.  The  king  accepted  of  the  present,  but  not 
without  wondering  how  a  raja  from  Tana  Sabrang  could 
think  of  presenting  him  v/ith  such  a  fruit,  as  if  it  was  unknown 
in  Java. 

"  His  thoughts,  however,  he  kept  to  himself,  but  Raja  Chermen 
knew  what  was  working  in  his  mind,  and  soon  after  took  his 
leave  and  returned  with  his  people  to  Leran.  His  nephew 
Muldna  Mdhsar,  the  son  of  Muldna  Ibrahim,  alone  remained 
with  Angka  Wijaya.  Some  time  after  this  the  kmg,  having 
contracted  a  kind  of  giddiness  in  the  head,  opened  the  pome- 
granate, when  instead  of  the  usual  seeds  he  found  it  filled  with 
rubies.  Surprised  at  this,  he  observed  to  his  minister  that 
Raja  Chermen  must  indeed  be  a  very  superior  kind  of  person,  and 
sent  Muldna  Mdlisar  to  request  the  raja  to  return,  but  the  raja 
refused  to  do  so,  and  proceeded  on." 

"  When  Raja  Chermen  had  been  four  nights  at  Leran  his 
people  fell  sick  and  many  died.  Among  them  were  three  cousins 
who  had  accompanied  him  from  Sabrang,  named  Sdyed  Jdsar^ 
Sdyed  Kdsem,  and  Sdyed  Chart,  whose  tombs  are  known  by  the 
name  of  Kubur  Panjang.^ 

"  The  princess  (the  Raja  of  Chermen' s  daughter)  who  had  been 
intended  for  the  Rajah  of  Majapahit  also  died.^ 

1  As  akeady  stated,  Sumatra. 

2  Open  shed  built  of  bamboo  and  bamboo  mattings. 

*  These  graves  are  stil]  to  be  seen  at  the  Desah  L4ran. 

*  Her  tomb  is  still  preserved. 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD  77 

"  Muldna  Ibrahim  having  been  appointed  to  look  after  and 
take  care  of  the  graves,  the  Raja  of  Chermen  with  all  his  people 
decided  to  return  home. 

*'  Angka  Wijaya,  desirous  of  meeting  again  with  Raja  Chermen, 
arrived  at  Leran  three  days  after  his  departure,  and  hearing  of 
the  death  of  the  princess,  observed  that  he  thought  the  religion 
of  Raja  Chermen  would  have  prevented  such  a  calamity  as  the 
premature  death  of  the  putri  [princess],  to  which  Muldna  repHed 
that  such  ignorance  was  only  the  consequence  of  worshipping 
Dewas  instead  of  the  true  God. 

"  Angka  Wijaya  became  highly  enraged  at  this  retort,  but, 
being  pacified  by  his  followers,  returned  to  Majapahit  without 
taking  any  further  notice  of  it. 

"  Muldna  Ibrahim,  who  remained  in  charge  of  the  tombs  of 
the  deceased,  afterwards  removed  from  Leran  to  Gresik,  which, 
however,  had  not  become  a  separate  State.  Here  he  died  twenty- 
one  years  after  the  departure  of  the  Raja  of  Chermen,  and  here 
his  tomb,  which  is  known  by  the  name  of  Gapura  Wetan,  is  still 
to  be  seen.  He  died  on  Monday,  the  12th  of  Rabinlawal,  in  the 
Javan  year  1334.^ 

"  To  return  to  the  Biiara  of  Majapahit,^  it  appears  that  early 
in  his  (Angka  Wijaya's)  reign,  hearing  from  the  merchants  who 
resorted  to  Java  of  the  beauty  and  accomplishments  of  a  princess 
of  Chdmpa,^  he  sent  an  embassy  to  that  country  to  demand  her  in 
marriage,  and  on  her  arrival  at  Gresik  received  her  there  in  person 
with  great  attention  and  state.  The  princess  nevertheless  for  a 
long  time  refused  to  cohabit  with  him  on  account  of  the  great 
number  of  his  concubines,  and  particularly  on  account  of  the 
powerful  hold  obtained  over  his  affections  by  a  Chinese  of  great 
beauty,  who  had  been  sent  him  as  a  present  from  one  of  the 
chiefs  of  China,  at  the  request  of  the  merchants,  and  with  the 
consent  of  the  emperor,  with  a  view  to  obtain  greater  privileges 
for  their  trade  with  Java." 

The  next  Arab  missionary  who  arrived  at  Gresik  was 
Muldna  Jshak,  the  father  of  the  Susuhunan  Giri.  He 
proceeded  to  Amjpel  in  Middle  Java,  where  many  persons 
embraced  the  faith.     From  here  he  went  to  Balamhangan. 

»  That  is  the  13th  March,  1412.     See  Chapter  XIII.,  "  Greesie." 
2  The  King  of  Majapahit. 
'  Cambodia. 


78  JAVA 

The  Arab  missionaries  now  increased  in  Java,  and  in 
A.J.  1334  Sheik  Ibu  Maldna  ^  established  himself  at  Cherihon 
and  began  the  work  of  converting  the  western  provinces. 

As  the  discontent  of  the  Princess  of  Champa  in  no  way 
abated  and  could  not  be  overcome,  the  hitara,  greatly 
against  his  will,  was  obliged  to  part  "with  his  Chinese  consort, 
whom  he  gave  to  Aria  Ddniar,  an  illegitimate  son  of  his  by 
a  Basdka  woman.  Aria  Ddmar  had  distinguished  himself 
at  an  early  age  by  bringing  together  a  collection  of  all  the 
wild  animals  of  the  forest  as  an  amusement  for  the  hitara 
and  his  family.  After  this,  when  in  command  of  the 
Majapahit  forces,  he  broke  up  the  Balinese  army,  destroying 
the  capital  and  killing  the  whole  royal  family,  except  one 
sister  of  the  rajah,  who,  being  very  beautiful,  was  sent  to 
the  harem  at  MajapaJiit. 

The  hitara  on  presenting  Aria  Damar  with  the  Chinese 
princess  made  it  a  condition  that  he  must  not  cohabit  with 
her  until  the  child  of  which  she  was  then  pregnant  was 
born.  Desiring  to  present  him  with  some  token  of  his 
regard  for  his  services  to  the  empire,  the  hitara  made  him 
adipati  or  first  chief  of  PaUriihang,  sending  him  there 
accompanied  by  the  princess  and  about  three  hundred 
picked  troops  from  Majapahit,  infantry  and  cavalry. 
\  The  Chinese  princess  was  now  delivered  of  a  son,  who  was 

called  Bdden  Pdtah,  and  another  was  born  later  on  to  the 
same  princess,  who  was  called  Bdden  Husen. 

However,  as  the  people  of  PaUmhang  disliked  her  for 
being  Chinese,  Aria  Damar  set  her  aside  and  took  another 
wife,  whose  son  he  promised  should  be  his  heir.  Bdden 
Pdtah  and  Bdden  Husen  were  sent  to  Majapahit. 

Bdden  Pdtah  when  he  grew  up  refused  to  live  at  Majapahit, 
after  the  treatment  his  mother  had  received  from  the 
hitara,  and  went  to  live  with  the  Arab  Pandita  at  Ampel, 
who     styled     himself     Susuhunan.      Bdden    Husen    was 

^  Frequently  known  as  Susuhunan  Gunung  Jati, 


THE   HINDU-JAV^ANESE   PERIOD         79 

appointed  hopati,  or  regent,  of  one  of  the  districts  of  Maja- 
pahit  called  Trong,  and  became  commander-in-chief  of  the 
forces. 

Baden  Fatah  soon  embraced  Mahometanism  and  married 
a  granddaughter  of  the  Susuhunan  of  Ampel ;  when  she 
became  pregnant  he  determined  to  seek  a  place  and  an 
estabUshment  of  his  own ;  this  he  was  directed  to  fix  at  a 
spot  where  there  was  a  sweet-scented  grass  called  hintara. 

This  he  fomid  in  the  midst  of  an  extensive  swamp  termed 
in  Javan  Demaklakan  (afterwards  shortened  to  Demak), 
though  first  called  hintara. 

As  soon  as  news  of  the  new  establishment  reached 
Majapahit,  Baden  Husen  was  sent  with  the  army  to  destroy 
it,  but  on  liis  arrival  there  he  prevailed  on  Baden  Pdtah  to 
come  to  Majapahit,  which  he  did. 

The  hitara  recognised  his  son  on  account  of  his  Chinese 
features  and  permitted  him  to  return  to  his  residence  at 
Bintdra  or  Devidk  with  the  title  of  Adipati. 

After  his  return  to  Demdk  with  his  wife  the  place  increased 
in  importance  and  prosperity.  Converts  among  the  inhabi- 
tants in  the  neighbouring  provinces  now  flocked  to  Demdk. 

The  population  daily  increasing,  the  building  of  a  great 
mosque  was  begun. 

By  A.J.  1390  (a.d.  1468)  there  were  eight  Arabs  in  Java 
who  had  assumed  the  title  of  Siisuhundn,  viz.,  the  Susii- 
hunans  of  Tuhan,^  Ampel,^  Kudus,^  GrSsik,^  Cheribon,  Tegal, 
Sidayu.^ 

These  all  assembled  at  Demdk  during  the  construction  of 
the  mosque,  and  in  commemoration  of  the  circumstance 
eight  pillars  were  placed  within  its  sacred  precincts.  The 
Susuhunan  of  Kudus  was  now  appointed  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Mahometan  army  of  150,000  proselytes  and 
marched  to  Majapahit,  against  which  Baden  Pdtah,  never 

^  Toeban.  ^  Near  Solo.  ^  Koedoes  in  Japara. 

*  Grissee,  5  Sedayoe  near  Sourabaya. 


80  JAVA 

forgetting  the  insult  to  his  mother,  the  Chinese  princess,  had 
openly  declared  war. 

Through  the  dexterity  of  Baden  Hilsen,  who  still  com- 
manded the  Majapahit  forces,  the  hostile  army  of  the  Arabs 
was  kept  at  bay  for  four  years. 

The  army  of  Majapahit,  however,  became  discontented 
with  the  uncertain  state  of  affairs  and  loudly  called  for  action. 

Owing  to  the  position  of  affairs,  Husen  against  his  will 
attacked  the  Mahometan  forces  near  the  Sidayu  river,  and 
contrary  to  his  expectations  nearly  annihilated  them  :  in 
fact  he  could  have  done  so,  had  he  allowed  his  army  to 
follow  up  their  victory  by  proceeding  to  Demdk.  This,  it 
is  said,  on  account  of  his  brotherly  friendship  for  Baden 
Fatah,  he  declined  to  do. 

Baden  Pdtah  was  now  invited  to  Majapahit  in  order  that 
amicable  arrangements  should  be  made,  but  to  gain  time  he 
excused  himself  on  account  of  illness,  and  to  deceive  his 
father,  the  hitara,  paid  the  usual  tribute. 

The  Mahometan  forces  were  reorganised  by  Baden  Pdtah, 
who  made  active  preparations  for  a  renewal  of  the  fight. 

Numerous  chiefs  sent  troops  to  Demdk,  and  a  second  army 
was  soon  assembled. 

When  ready  the  army  **  of  the  Faithful,"  now  highly 
elated,  marched  to  Majapahit  and  engaged  the  army  under 
Hi!isen. 

The  engagement  was  long  and  protracted  and  lasted  seven 
days,  during  which  the  Arabs  preached  and  prayed  inces- 
santly. 

At  last,  seeing  an  opportunity,  the  whole  of  the  Mahometan 
forces  advanced  and  swept  the  army  of  Majapahit  before 
them,  throwing  them  into  an  utter  disorder  from  which 
there  was  no  recovery. 

Thus  fell  in  the  year  a.j.  1400^  (a.d.  1475)  the  great  and 

1  The  Portuguese  give  the  date  of  the  destruction  ol  Majapahit  between 
A.D.  1516  and  1520,  but  they  are  probably  mistaken. 


THE   HINDU-JAVANESE   PERIOD  81 

magnificent  capital  of  Java,  the  boast  and  pride  of  the 
East. 

In  this  wise  did  the  sacred  Hindu  city  of  Majapahit, 
celebrated  amongst  all  the  eastern  islands  for  the  splendour 
of  its  court,  for  its  excellent  government,  and  the  glory  of 
its  arms,  become  a  wilderness  ;  the  Javan  assertion  is  true  : 
"  Lost  and  gone  is  the  pride  of  the  land." 

The  regalia,  which  was  a  large  one,  and  had  in  it  a  splendid 
crown  with  huge  diamonds,  a  golden  service,  and  a  magnifi- 
cent gamelan,^  was  all  removed  to  Demdk,  as  was  all 
property,  public  or  private,  of  every  description,  so  that  in 
two  years  the  country  was  utterly  laid  waste  and  became 
wholly  deserted.  What  became  of  the  hitara  of  Majapahit 
is  not  certain  ;  some  accounts  say  he  fled  to  Malang,  others 
say  to  Bali. 

At  the  former  place,  or  near  it,  the  people  of  Majapahit 
who  had  followed  him  began  making  bricks  and  built  with 
these  a  walled  town.  They  dug  a  deep  moat  or  ditch 
around  the  whole  and  rendered  it  a  place  of  considerable 
strength.  This,  however,  Baden  Fatah  is  said  to  have 
destroyed  at  once,  the  old  hitara  dying  shortly  afterwards 
at  the  age  of  63  years. 

Thus  was  the  utter  destruction  of  the  empire  of  Majapahit 
completed,  it  being  brought  to  its  end  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  one  of  its  own  sons. 

Before  proceeding  further  with  the  history  of  the  country, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  go  back  a  little. 

^  Said  to  be  now  at  Djockjakarta. 


J. — VOL.    I.  G 


SECOND  PERIOD 

Before  the  Arrival  of  the   Europeans 


G  2 


CHAPTER   II 
Arabian  Intercourse  with  Java 
from  early  times  to  the  founding  of  the  mahometan 

KINGDOMS    OF    DEMAK    (a.D.     1477)     AND    PAJANG    (a.D. 

1577). 

The  famous  voyage  of  Hippalus  to  the  Far  East  marks 
an  epoch  in  the  history  of  navigation.  The  seamen  of 
western  Asia  and  Europe  had  never  ventured  out  of  sight 
of  land,  from  the  fear  they  had  of  losing  it  ;  so  that  up  to 
this  time  the  length  of  their  voyages  had  been  more  or  less 
determined  by  the  convolutions  of  the  coast  which  they 
skirted. 

This  man,  the  first  who  had  the  hardihood  to  face  the 
terrible  open  sea,  and  pass  out  of  the  sight  of  terra  firma, 
staking  his  life  upon  the  accuracy  of  his  crude  knowledge  of 
geography,  and  sailing  thus  bravely  into  the  unknown, 
deserves  almost  to  take  a  higher  rank  than  the  world's  other 
great  adventurers — Christoj)her  Columbus,  Vasco  da  Gama. 
and  Magelhan — in  that  he  had  less  accumulated  experience 
than  they  had  by  which  to  profit. 

Once  the  direct  sea  route  to  the  East  had  been  found,  an 
enormous  impetus  was  of  course  given  to  the  trade  between 
i\.lexandria  and  the  East,  and  Pliny  supplies  us  with  a  great 
deal  of  information  regarding  the  trade  carried  on  by  the 
natives  of  Tajprohane  with  what  are  supposed  to  be  the 
Seres  of  northern  China. 

At  this  time  the  island  of  Jabadius  is  frequently  mentioned. 

Again,  Marinus  of  Tyre  has  left  us  accounts  of  the  sailor 
Alexander,  who  is  said  to  have  made  some  wonderful  sea 
voyages  to  China  and  Sumatra. 


86  JAVA 

It  is  in  Marinus's  works  that  the  land  of  Chersonesus 
Aurea,  or  the  Golden  Chersonese,  is  spoken  of  for  the  first 
time,  which  was  regarded  as  the  source  of  the  fabulous 
riches  of  which  the  Bible  gives  us  the  record. 

In  Josephus's  "  Antiquities  of  the  Jews,"  which  was 
written  during  the  first  century,  therefore  at  a  period  earlier 
than  the  date  of  the  works  of  Marinus  of  Tyre,  is  to  be  found 
the  following  passage  with  reference  to  the  pilots  furnished 
to  Solomon  by  Hiram  of  Tyre  : — 

**  To  whom  Solomon  gave  this  command,  that  they  should 
go  along  with  his  stewards  to  the  land  that  of  old  was  called 
Ophir,  but  now  Aurea  Chersonesus,  which  belongs  to  India, 
to  fetch  gold." 

The  geographical  position  of  Aurea  Chersonesus,  according 
to  Ptolemy,  is  south  of  Further  India,  and  from  his  map. 
Chapter  I.,  Part  II.,  it  would  seem  that  the  land  referred  to 
is  either  the  Malay  Peninsula,  or,  what  is  more  likely, 
Sumatra,  or  a  land  just  below  the  Malay  Peninsula,  where 
gold  abounds  to  this  day. 

M.  Auguste  Pavie,  the  well-known  French  writer  on  Indo- 
China,  contends,  however,  that  Cambodia  is  the  original 
Ophir,  and  that  Chersonesus  Aurea  is  the  name  that  was 
applied  to  all  that  portion  of  southern  Asia.  It  is  of  course 
true,  as  already  explained,  that  there  was  a  wonderful 
civilisation  in  times  far  back  in  Cambodia,  and  that  the 
Khmer  Empire  must  have  been  the  centre  of  a  great  wealth 
and  commerce  and  have  played  an  important  part  in  eastern 
Asia  ;  but,  as  Sir  Hugh  Clifford  in  his  "  Further  India  " 
remarks,  M.  Pavie's  arguments,  plausible  though  they  often 
are,  fail  to  carry  conviction  when  he  seeks  to  prove  the 
identity  of  Cambodia  with  Ophir.^ 

The  effect  of  all  these  voyages  to  the  golden  East  cannot 
but  have  made  itself  felt  by  the  inhabitants  of  Arabia,  for  it 

>  Sir  Hugh  Clifford  thinks  himself  that  the  Malay  State  of  Pahang  is 
the  Golden  Chersonese. 


JAVAN   DIGNITARY. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     87 

must  have  frequently  been  touched  at  by  seamen  ;  but  when 
the  first  Arabs  visited  Java  is  not  kno^Ti,  although  it  is 
more  or  less  certain  that  the  Moluccas  or  Spice  Islands  were 
not  unknown  to  them  centuries  before  the  Christian  era. 

Arab  and  Persian  Colony  in  Sumatra. — Some  think  a 
small  Arab  or  Persian  colony  in  Sumatra  was  established  on 
the  west  coast  of  Sumatra  between  Padang  and  Benkoelen 
not  long  after  the  birth  of  Christ.^ 

Trade  luith  Ceylon  and  Arabia. — Certain  it  also  is  that  an 
Arabian  influence  was  felt  in  Sumatra  as  early  as  a.d.  600, 
and  an  important  trade  was  kept  up  with  Ceylon  and  Arabia 
in  pepper,  gold,  silver  and  tin. 

Commerce  with  Madagascar. — There  is  also  some  evidence 
of  a  trade  being  carried  on  at  an  early  date  between  Sumatra 
and  Madagascar  in  Arabian  dhows.  It  is  also  commonly 
supposed  that  slaves  were  brought  in  considerable  numbers 
from  the  former  to  the  latter  country. 

John  de  Barros  in  his  "  Decades  "  and  Flaccourt  in  his 
"  History  of  Madagascar  "  state  that  the  language  spoken 
by  the  inhabitants  is  full  of  Javan  and  Malay  words. 
Raempfer  in  his  famous  history,  discoursing  on  the  language 
of  Madagascar,  remarking  on  the  above  fact,  says  it  is  the 
surviving  evidence  of  the  trade  and  commerce  which  these 
two  nations  (Sumatra  and  Java)  about  2,500  years  ago,'^ 
the  richest  and  most  powerful  in  Asia,  carried  on  with 
Madagascar,  where  great  numbers  had  settled. 

Visit  by  a  Greek  from  Arabia. — From  Grecian  records  we 
learn  of  one  lambulus,  who  travelled  to  Arabia  and  from 
there  proceeded  "  in  a  Httle  vessel,  well  built,  and  well 
equipped  with  provisions  for  six  months  on  board  which 
men  were  put  with  instructions  to  steer  south  in  order  to 
arrive  at  a  certain  fortunate  island  inhabited  by  a  kind  and 

'  Or  earlier. 

2  He  wrote  the  history  abont  1690,  and  this  would  therefore  bring  us 
to  about  B.C.  310. 


88  JAVA 

hospitable  people  with  whom  they  might  live  for  the  rest  of 
their  lives  "  ;  and  that  the  island  was  situated  in  a  most 
excellent  climate  very  near  the  Equator,  and  plenty  of 
calamus  and  maize  grew  there.  The  people  were  learned 
in  astrology,  and  their  island  was  amongst  seven  others, 
lambulus  stayed  seven  years  in  the  East  Indies.  He 
mentions  that  the  religion  of  the  people  consisted  in  wor- 
shipping the  sun  and  the  heavens,  and  that  their  oldest  man 
acted  as  king. 

The  writer  of  lambulus's  travels  seems  inclined  to  believe 
that  the  island  visited  was  either  Sumatra  or  one  of  the 
Moluccas,  preferably  the  former,  as  the  bark  w^as  "  almost 
too  frail  "  for  such  an  extended  voyage  as  would  be  necessary 
to  reach  the  latter,  and,  moreover,  no  account  is  given  by 
lambulus  of  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  which  in  the  latter  case 
he  would  have  been  obliged  to  pass.  As  a  matter  of  fact 
the  Straits  of  Sunda  need  not  have  been  passed,  as  another 
route  could  have  been  taken. 

What  makes  it  probable,  moreover,  that  the  place  was 
neither  the  Moluccas  nor  Sumatra,  but  was  indeed  Java,  is 
the  fact  that  maize  was  discovered  there,  and  early  travellers 
are  all  at  one  in  reporting  its  growth  in  Java,  whilst  not  a 
single  one  has  ever  made  mention  of  its  being  found  in 
Sumatra.  When  the  famous  flight  called  the  Hejira  took 
place  and  Mahomet  fled  from  his  enemies  at  Medma  with  a 
handful  of  followers,  he  began  to  preach  over  great  tracts 
of  country  "  that  there  was  only  one  Allah,  and  he  was 
Allah,  and  that  Mahomet  was  his  prophet,"  in  the  hope  of 
raising  a  sufficient  number  of  zealots  to  support  his  totter- 
ing cause.  In  this  he  was  successful,  and  was  able  to 
defeat  successively  the  Jews  in  625  and  the  Christians 
in  629. 

His  Arab  priests  now  poured  into  India  and  Ceylon, 
preaching  wherever  they  went.  At  first  little  or  no  pro- 
gress was  made,  owing  probably  to  the  strong  hand  kept 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     89 

on  the  population  by  the  autocratic  Hindu  rulers.  Even- 
tually, however,  Mahometanism  won  the  day.  Arab 
travellers  or  renegades,  and  no  doubt  Arab  priests,  visited 
Gresik  and  Surabaya  at  a  very  early  date  ;  in  fact,  as  we 
know,  the  foundation  of  the  great  empire  of  Majapahit  has 
been  ascribed  to  them.  It  would  not  appear,  however,  as 
if  any  attempt  was  made  thus  early  to  alter  the  religion  of 
the  natives,  the  Arabs  being  more  intent  on  commercial 
gains  than  on  religious  propaganda. 

At  the  same  time  the  ground  was  no  doubt  being  gradually 
prepared,  the  seed  sown,  and  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants 
opened  to  the  benefits  of  Islamism  as  compared  with 
Buddhism. 

The  Javans  were  always  a  superstitious,  pliable  folk, 
easy  to  be  convinced  by  earnest  preachers  and  overawed 
by  any  one  claiming  a  relationship  or  a  connection  with 
unknown  gods. 

We  have,  too,  among  the  Arabs  the  voyages  of  Sindbad 
the  Sailor  in  the  "  Thousand  and  One  Nights,"  which  belong 
to  the  ninth  century,  when  the  commerce  of  the  Arabs  under 
the  caliphs  of  Baghdad  was  at  its  highest  development.  In 
his  first  voyage  we  are  told  that  Sindbad  reaches  "  the 
country  of  the  Maharajah,"  a  title  given,  according  to  Sir 
George  Birdwood  in  his  old  records  of  the  India  Office,  so 
far  back  as  the  second  century  to  a  Hindu  king  whose  vast 
monarchy  is  said  to  have  comprised  the  greater  part  of 
India,  Further  India,  and  Sumatra  and  Java  in  the  Indian 
Archipelago,  and  whose  title  continued  to  be  borne  after- 
wards by  one  of  the  sovereigns  of  the  later  disintegrated 
empire.  In  Sindbad's  second  voyage  mention  is  made  of 
the  kingdom  of  Riha — the  Malay  Peninsula  according  to 
some — and  the  manner  of  the  preparation  of  camphor, 
produced  in  the  mountain  forests  there,  is  accurately 
described.^     In  the  third  voyage  the  island  of  "  Selaheth  " 

^  This  may  have  been  Borneo. 


90  JAVA 

or  Malacca  is  mentioned.  In  the  fourth  he  was  carried  to  a 
country  where  he  found  men  gathering  pepper/  and  from 
it  went  to  the  island  of  Nacous  ^  and  on  to  Kela.^  In  the 
fifth  voyage  he  is  shipwrecked  on  the  island  of  the  "  Old 
Man  of  the  Sea."  *  Thence  he  crossed  to  the  Maldives  and 
back  again  to  the  pepper  country  of  Malabar,  and  from  there 
over  the  peninsula  of  Comorin  back  to  Baghdad.  In  the 
sixth  he  visited  an  island  where  grew  superb  '*  aloes,"  trees 
of  the  kind  called  santy,  probably  sandal-wood.  The  island 
of  Serendih  or  Ceylon  marked  the  hmit  of  his  seventh  and 
last  voyage. 

The  Abb6  Renaudot  in  his  "  Anciennes  Relations  des 
Indes  et  de  la  Chine  "  '  gives  the  notes  of  two  Arab  merchants 
who  apparently  visited  India  and  China  about  the  eighth 
and  ninth  centuries,  and  are  among  the  first  Western  writers 
to  make  mention  of  tcha  or  tea  and  porcelain.  They  also 
mention  arrack  and  rice.  Suleiman,  the  author  of  the  first 
part  of  the  "  Relations,"  who  was  a  merchant  of  Bussorah® 
about  851,  seems  to  have  journeyed  from  Serendih  to  Al 
Ramni  (Sumatra),  and  from  thence  on  to  Zahaj  (Java). 

Masudi  of  Baghdad  visited  India  and  China  in  a.d.  916, 
and  mentions  the  products  of  the  East  Indian  Archipelago — 
nutmegs,  cloves,  cubebs,  camphor,  areca  nuts,  and  sandal- 
wood— which  leads  us  to  suppose  he  visited  the  various 
islands  where  these  were  produced. 

Coming  down  to  mediaeval  times,  an  Arab  traveller  called 
Ibu  Batuta,  "  the  traveller  without  peer  of  the  whole  Arab 
nation  "  as  he  is  affectionately  called  by  a  holy  man  of  his 
own  faith,  was  the  next  to  visit  Java.     He  was  born  in 


'  Malabar. 

2  The  Nicobars. 

*  Quedahi. 

*  Probably  on  the  Concan  coast. 
•'  Printed  in  Paris,  1718. 

'  Bussorah  was  founded  by  Caliph  Omar  a.i>.  635  purposely  to  encourage 
the  Indian  trade  by  the  Persian  Gulf. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     91 

Tangier  on  the  24th  February,  1304,  and  set  out  on  his 
travels  in  his  twenty-first  year.  He  did  not  return  to  his 
native  land  until  1347,  and  during  this  time  he  covered  in  all 
75,000  miles.  He  visited  India,  China,  Cambodia,  where  he 
was  duly  impressed  with  the  very  rich  region,  and  the  King 
of  Champa,  who  had  326  children.  Thereafter  he  visited 
Java,  possibly  settling  for  a  time  at  Gresik,  whence  he 
proceeded  to  Sumatra.  Here  he  spent  a  season  awaiting 
the  change  of  the  monsoon,  eventually  leaving  the  island 
in  a  ship  belonging  to  the  King  of  Sumatra. 

Ibu  Batuta,  although  by  profession  a  holy  man,  seems  to 
have  regarded  all  his  co-religionists  as  specially  created  for 
his  comfort  and  convenience.  Wherever  he  went  he 
appears  to  have  shamelessly  preyed  upon  them  and  deemed 
them  sufficiently  repaid  by  the  fact  that  they  were  being 
honoured  by  administering  to  his  needs.  Everything  was 
on  a  scale  of  unexampled  grandeur  and  magnificence.  It 
can  be  well  imagined,  therefore,  that  on  his  return  to  Arabia 
he  spread  about  reports  of  the  riches  and  splendour  of  the 
East  and  the  greatness  of  its  emperors  ;  this  brought  a 
band  of  Mahometan  adventurers  from  many  parts  under 
the  cloak  of  rehgion  to  Java,  who  accepted  "  handsome 
presents  "  for  their  religious  ministrations,  and  were  not 
above  keeping  an  unusually  large  number  of  wives. 

Majapahit. — With  extravagant  airs  and  haughty  tone, 
numbers  under  one  pretext  or  another  found  their  way  to 
Majapahit  and  its  neighbourhood  and  permanently  settled 
in  the  land,  marrying  the  daughters  of  the  rajahs  and 
regents,  by  whom  they  were  looked  upon  as  foreign  princes 
in  disguise,  capable  of  performing  miracles  and  connected 
with  the  spirits  of  the  upper  and  under-world.  They  were 
consequently  greatly  respected  by  the  common  people.  In 
this  way  did  they  gradually  obtain  a  control  over  the  whole 
country,  which  eventually  ended  in  the  whole  population  of 
Java  throwing  down  their  images  and  worshipping  Allah. 


92  JAVA 

The  next  step  of  these  Arabs  was  to  lead  their  proselytes 
against  their  own  princes  and  rulers,  whom  they  deposed, 
destroying  their  splendid  capitals  wdth  fire  and  sword. 

They  then  placed  the  people  under  a  yoke  from  which 
they  have  never  been  able  to  free  themselves  ;  this  will  be 
related  in  the  following  pages. 

In  1375  an  Arabian  scholar  named  Ihu  Muldna  Malik 
Ibrahim,^  who  it  is  said  had  already  firmly  planted  Mahome- 
tanism  in  Johore  and  various  places  in  Sumatra,  hearing 
that  the  princes  of  Java  had  not  yet  given  up  their  idolatrous 
and  heathen  practices,  although  the  people  on  the  north 
coast  from  continual  intercourse  with  the  merchants  from 
Arabia  were  ripe  for  conversion,  decided  to  proceed  to  this 
country.  Later  on  his  cousin  (the  Eajah  Cliermen)  em- 
barked from  somewhere  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca  with  his 
daughter,  whom  he  hoped  to  marry  in  the  cause  of  religion 
to  the  Emperor  of  Majapahit,  Prahii,  AugJia,  Uijaya.  The 
rajah  took  with  him  all  his  follow^ers,  and  landing  at  Gresik, 
estabhshed  himself  at  Desa  Leran,  w^hich  is  about  six  miles 
distant  from  Gresik,  and  was  at  this  time  an  important 
trading  place.  Here  he  built  a  mosque,  and  by  his  good 
life  and  habits  began  soon  to  gain  converts. 

Shortly  after  the  mosque  was  built  many  of  his  followers 
and  relations  died  and  were  buried  there  ;  their  tombs  are 
still  to  be  seen. 

Other  high  priests  now  began  to  arrive  in  the  East  Indies, 
and  the  city  of  Palembang  was  eventually  converted  by 
Baden  Rachmat,  the  prince  of  this  place,  Aria  Damar  having 
long  practised  Islamism  (so  it  is  said)  in  private  before  his 
people  gave  up  their  "  ancient  waj^s." 

After  Mulana  Malik  Ibrahim  had  made  many  thousands 
of  converts,  he  sickened  and  died  on  Monday,  the  13th  March, 
in  the  year  1412.     He  was  buried  with  much  pomp  in  the 

*  Not  to  be  confused  with  Sheik  Mulana  Ebrahim,  who  was  later  on 
Susuhunan  of  Cheribon. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     93 

hills  behind  Gresik,  and  his  grave  is  still  veneiated  as  that 
of  a  saint. 

Baden  Rachmat  now  came  to  Gresik,  which  had  already 
become  an  important  centre  of  the  new  religion.  He 
brought  his  sister  with  him,  who  soon  became  a  member  of 
the  Emperor  of  Majapahifs  harem.  To  Aria  Ddmar,  the 
Prince  of  Palembang,  a  son  was  born  by  his  newiy-married 
Chinese  wife,  w^ho  was  given  the  name  of  Eaden  Patah. 
This  son  when  grown  up  w^ent  to  reside  first  at  Ampel  (near 
Solo)  and  afterwards  at  Demdk,  a  town  he  himself  founded.^ 
Here  he  became  the  object  of  suspicion,  his  ways  being  those 
of  a  zealous  devotee  to  Islamism.  He  was,  however, 
induced  to  appear  at  the  court  of  Majapahit,  and  the 
emperor,  recognising  who  he  was,  not  only  accepted  his 
homage,  but  forgave  him  for  his  faults  of  omission  and 
commission,  and  sent  him  back  laden  with  presents  and 
honours  as  Adipate.  With  this  new  title  he  estabhshed  him- 
self at  Demak  stronger  than  before  and  began  to  intrigue  more 
than  ever  for  the  introduction  of  Islamism  among  the  people ; 
he  surrounded  himself  with  all  the  most  celebrated  advocates 
he  could  find  in  Java  of  the  new^  rehgion.  He  w^as  shortly 
after  this  attacked  by  the  Hindu  forces  of  Majapahit  near 
Sidaya  and  beaten  with  heavy  loss,  his  general  being  killed. 

Disappointed  but  not  discouraged,  he  set  to  work  to 
strengthen  his  forces,  collecting  an  army  of  150,000  men. 
He  now  openly  repudiated  the  Emperor  of  Majapahit.  He 
thereupon  was  a.d.  1475  acclaimed  sovereign  and  champion 
of  the  new  religion. 

Believing  his  strength  sufficient,  he  sent  his  army  under 
the  son  of  the  general  that  was  killed  to  attack  Majapahit. 
Their  progress  has  been  described  as  ollows  : — 

"  The  army   of  the  Faithful,   highly  elated  and  determined 

1  Full  particulars  of  Eaden  Patali,  whose  real  father  was  the  Bitara  of 
Majapahit,  and  of  his  founding  the  city  of  Demak  are  given  in  Part  III. 
of  the  last  chapter. 


94.  JAVA 

upon  the  downfall  of  paganism,  were  met  by  the  united  forces 
of  3Iajapahit,  and  a  severe  and  desperate  battle  took  place  which 
lasted  for  seven  successive  days.  In  this  protracted  engagement 
the  former  were  at  first  worsted,  but  the  commander,  availing 
himself  of  the  enchanted  box  and  miraculous  weapons,  at  last 
succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy  before  him,  and  the  city  of 
Majapahit,  surrounded  on  all  sides,  submitted  to  the  hostile 
forces,  the  king  and  his  immediate  followers  having  previously 
quitted  it  in  disorder  and  fled  to  the  eastward." 

The  pride  of  the  land — of  the  East — was  gone,  Mahome- 
tanism  had  triumphed,  and  the  army  of  Javanese  converts, 
under  the  lead  of  the  Arab  adventurers,  had  destroyed  their 
own  capital.  Buddhism  was  now  gradually  crushed  out  of 
existence. 

These  Arabs  were  undoubtedly  men  of  sharper  intelhgence 
than  the  Javans.  They  were,  moreover,  better  educated  ; 
they  had  travelled,  and  were  capable  of  acting  in  combina- 
tion for  a  great  end.  They  were  further  actuated  by 
religious  zeal,  and  once  they  had  laid  their  heavy  hand  on 
the  population,  which  on  account  of  climate  and  other 
reasons  was  less  actively  inclined,  and  was  blessed  with  a 
rehgion  that  had  never  greatly  appealed  to  its  imagination, 
it  was  easily  overcome  and  converted  ;  and  when  one  of  its 
own  rulers  (Raden  Patah),  a  prince  of  the  house  of  Majapahit 
himself  changed  his  religion,  the  end  of  Buddhism  in  Java 
was  inevitable. 

Baden  Fatah,  who  died  in  1519  at  a  great  age,  was 
followed  at  Demdk  by  Fangerang  Sdbrang  Lor  as  Susuhunan. 
He  was  the  son  of  a  renowned  Javan  chief  who  had  embraced 
Mahometanism. 

Another  Arab  named  Sheikh  Noervedin  Ibrahim  ibu 
Maulana  Israel,  called  later  the  Susuhunan  Goenoeng 
Djati,^  who  had  come  to  Java  about  1480  and  settled  on 
the  north  coast,  formed  an  alliance  with  Raden  Fatah  of 
Demdk,   and  proceeded   to   Cheribon   to   preach   the  new 

'  Also  Junung  Jati. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     95 

religion  and  establish  a  kingdom.  He  soon  conquered  and 
converted  the  Javanese  there,  who  mention  in  their  annals, 
which  have  been  handed  down,  that,  unlike  the  other 
Susuhunans,  he  won  by  the  gentle  means  of  persuasion  and 
not  by  the  sword. 

History  has  proved  he  was  the  most  able  and  enterprising 
of  all  the  apostles  who  came  to  Java  and  settled  there. 

In  1526  the  Susuhunan  of  Cheribon  conquered  Banten 
(Bantam),  which  weakened  the  empire  of  Pajajaran,  as 
related.  This  was  destroyed  in  1570,  before  his  death  in 
1580  at  the  wonderful  age  of  about  115  or  120,  if  the  dates 
given,  which  there  is  in  this  case  small  reason  for  doubting, 
are  correct.  In  the  later  years,  especially  in  the  war  with 
Pajajaran,  the  Susuhunan's  son  Pangera7i  Yusuf,  who  was 
now  king  at  Bantam,  conducted  the  operations.  His  son 
succeeded  him  at  Cheribon. 

To  a  younger  son  of  the  Susuhunan  of  Cheribon  were 
assigned  the  lands  lying  between  the  Chitaram  and  Tangaran 
rivers,  which  had  formerl}^  formed  part  of  Cheribon  and 
Bantam.  The  young  prince  in  1505  assumed  the  title  of 
Rajah  of  Jo  Karta  or  Jakatra,  fixing  his  capital  near  the 
Kampung  of  that  name,  where  he  and  his  descendants 
continued  to  reign  until  they  were  expelled  by  the  Dutch 
in  1619. 

At  this  time  the  ancient  empire  of  Java  was  divided  into 
no  less  than  seven  separate  and  independent  governments — 
Bantam,  Jokarta,  CJierihon,  Pajang  Kedu,  Kediri  and 
Madura  ^ — the  several  chiefs  of  which  in  general  assumed 
the  title  of  Kiai  Gede ;  sometimes  they  took  the  more 
religious  title  of  Sultan  or  Susuhunan. 

One  of  the  descendants  of  Sheikh  Noervedin  built  for 
himself  a  wonderful  palace  at  Cheribon.  The  facade  of  this 
extraordinary   building   consists    of    several    towers    like 

1  Francis  Drake  mentions  there  were  only  five  sovereigns  of  Java  when 
he  visited  Bantam  in  1577. 


96  JAVA 

kiosks  surrounded  with  verandahs,  each  of  which  is  ascended 
by  a  spiral  staircase  inside.  At  the  back  of  the  palace  is 
an  artificial  lake,  studded  with  numbers  of  islands,  com- 
municating wdth  each  other  by  means  of  subterranean 
passages.  This  lake,  which  now  unfortunately  has  more 
the  look  of  a  swamp  than  of  a  clear  sheet  of  water,  is  thickly 
grown  with  tall  rushes.  In  the  interior  of  the  main  position 
of  the  building  are  several  apartments  connected  w^ith  each 
other  by  small  bridges  spanning  narrow  dried-up  channels, 
which  were  once  running  rivulets. 

The  object  of  the  luxury-loving  sovereign  of  Cheribon  in 
erecting  a  place  of  this  kind  seems  to  have  been  to  enjoy  an 
incessant  sound  of  rushing  and  falling  waters.  When  the 
lakes  and  rivulets  w^ere  full  and  the  fountains  played,  this 
abode  must  have  resembled  one  of  those  enchanting  palaces 
so  often  referred  to  in  the  "  Arabian  Nights."  ^  In  almost 
every  room  there  w^as  a  fountain.  The  water,  still  flowing 
in  many  of  the  upper  chambers,  rushed  in  torrents  from  the 
tops  of  the  tow-ers  and  fell  down  steps  into  the  basins 
below\ 

In  the  courts  adjoining  are  numerous  tanks,  profusely 
ornamented  wdth  birds,  fishes,  animals,  and  serpents  in 
stone.  These  sculptured  figures  are  placed  in  all  kinds  of 
places,  some  appearing  to  glide  through  artificial  brushwood 
and  others  being  perched  on  trees.  Originally  the  water 
must  have  been  throw^n  forth  in  glittering  streams  from 
every  mouth  and  nostril,  but  this  is  not  so  now. 

There  is  one  room  apart  from  the  rest  of  the  main  build- 
ings which  was  approached  by  a  bridge.  It  was  called  the 
room  of  the  "  ayer  clamboo,"  ^  or  curtain  of  w^ater.  This  is 
a  fairly  large  apartment,  and  must  have  once  been  gorgeously 
fitted  up.     The  sovereign  used  here  to  enjoy  his  siesta  with 

1  It  is  believed  by  Javan  scholars  the  "  Arabian  Nights  "  were  written 
in  the  island  of  Bali  by  an  Arab  who  visited  the  place. 
-  Malay. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA    97 

the  members  of  his  harem,  the  curtain  that  protected  his 
privacy  consisting  of  the  cascade,  which,  Hke  a  transparent 
veil,  fell  gently  before  him. 

The  materials  employed  in  this  building  are  the  same  as 
the  Chinese  use  for  making  their  artificial  grottoes  and 
rockeries,  namely,  mortar,  clay  and  cement,  profusely 
studded  vAth.  shells,  flint  and  pebbles. 

This  particular  palace,  which  must  have  surpassed  every- 
thing of  its  kind  in  Java,  was  the  woik  of  two  ingenious, 
hard-working  Chinamen,  whose  patient  toil  and  unwearied 
labour  the  cruel  and  jealous  sultan  rewarded  by  depriving 
them  of  their  eyes,  so  that  none  of  the  neighbouring  princes 
could  construct  a  similar  palace. 

The  Second  Empire  of  Matarem. 

The  emjpire  of  Matarem  resuscitated  by  J  oka  Tingkir.-- 
Nearly  six  centuries  had  passed  since  the  disappearance 
and  extinction  of  the  old  Hindu  empire  of  Mendang  Kamulan 
or  Matarem,  when  Jaka^  Tingkir,  a  descendant  of  the  last 
prince  of  the  better-known  later  Hindu  empire  of  Majapahit, 
was  invested  by  the  Arab  Susuhunan  of  Gresik  with  the 
title  of  sultan  over  the  kingdom  of  Pajang^  in  1568.^  The 
new  sultan  now  appointed  one  of  liis  staunch  adherents 
called  Pamanahan  to  be  adipati  of  a  district  belonging  to 
Pajang  called  Matarem,*  from  which  the  newly-appointed 
prince  was  called  henceforth  Kyahi  Ageng  Matarem.  At 
this  time  Matarem  was  little  more  than  a  wilderness  and  was 
inhabited  by  no  more  than  three  hundred  poor  Hindu-Javan 
families,  but  after  six  years  of  mild  and  equitable  adminis- 
tration this  province  was  converted  by  its  ruler  into  a  fertile 
and  populous  country,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  surround- 

'  Jaka  means  "  boy  "  or  "  young  man." 
*  Pajang  was  part  of  the  present  residency  of  Djockjocarta. 
8  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  fishponds  which  are  now  preserved   at 
Grissee  for  the  Ikan  baudeng  were  dug. 
'  Part  of  the  present  residencies  of  Djockjokarta,  Soerakarta. 

J. — ^VOL.  I.  H 


98  JAVA 

ing  districts  voluntarily  submitted  to  his  authority.  The 
capital  of  this  kingdom  was  almost  on  the  same  spot  as  the 
present  town  of  Djockjokarta,  and  the  royal  residence  was 
taken  up  where  the  present  desa  called  Pasar  Gede  stands 
to-day. 

Suta  Wijaya,  called  Sena'pati. — In  1575  Famandhan  died, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Suta  Wijaya,  who  took  the 
command  of  all  the  troops  of  the  empire  under  the  title  of 
Kiai  Gede  Agung  Senapati  Sugalaga,^  commonly  distin- 
guished by  the  single  title  of  Sena'pati.  The  Sultan  of 
Pajang,  the  overlord,  when  crowning  Senapati,  enjoined  on 
him  to  present  himself  yearly  at  his  court  at  the  feast  of 
Milut. 

The  ambition  of  the  new  monarch,  however,  was  un- 
bounded and  the  court  of  Matarem  was  filled  with  various 
predictions,  dreams,  and  enchantments  in  which  Senapati 
was  promised  the  assistance  of  Kiai  Gede  Laut  Kidul  (the 
goddess  of  the  Great  South  Sea  or  Indian  Ocean),  who 
declared  herself  wedded  to  him.  He  was  instigated  to 
build  a  large  and  extensive  kraton  on  the  site  of  the  dalam^ 
his  father  had  built.  Garrisons  were  placed  at  the  limits  of 
his  territory,  and  he  burnt  some  of  the  adjacent  desas  and 
assumed  an  attitude  of  complete  independence,  bringing  by 
degrees  many  of  the  neighbouring  districts  under  his 
subjection. 

The  Sultan  of  Pajang,  feeling  uneasy,  sent  ambassadors 
to  Matarem  to  demand  an  explanation.  They  were  in  the 
first  instance  entirely  duped  by  the  flattering  manner  in 
which  they  were  received,  but  afterwards  discovering  the 
real  state  of  affairs,  they  reported  to  the  sultan,  who  is 
represented  as  saying,  **  The  will  of  Providence  rules  all 
events." 

The    chiefs    of    Tuban    and    Deniak,    however,    became 

1  Senapati  is  a  title  like  commander-in-chief. 
•^  Enclosure. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA    99 

apprehensive  of  the  gi'owing  power  of  Matdrem  and  induced 
the  Sultan  of  Pajang  to  send  a  considerable  force  against 
the  Senapati.  This  consisted  of  five  thousand  picked  men, 
whilst  that  of  the  Senapati  did  not  exceed  eight  hundred, 
the  latter  fearing  an  engagement,  as  his  troops  were  in- 
experienced and  undisciplined,  whilst  those  of  the  Sultan  of 
Pajang  were  of  the  highest  order,  halted  at  a  short  distance 
from  Bramhanan,  where  the  enemy's  forces  were  encamped. 

During  the  night  the  Senapati  burned  all  the  kampungs 
in  the  neighbourhood,  and  set  fire  to  the  long  grass  at  some 
distance  from  Brambanan,  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  camp. 
By  this  means  he  persuaded  them  that  the  Matarem  forces 
had  taken  their  departure,  in  order  to  seize  the  kingdom  of 
Pajang  by  surprise. 

Dirring  the  following  night  there  was  a  great  thunder- 
storm, and  in  the  morning  the  mountain  Merhahu  burst  with 
a  dreadful  explosion,  throwing  out  ashes  and  large  stones  ; 
the  rivers  overflowed  their  banks  and  inundated  the  country, 
which  is  low-lying,  occasioning  considerable  confusion  and 
some  destruction  in  the  Pajang  camp.  This  led  the  com- 
mander, who  was  the  sultan's  son,  to  make  a  speedy 
retreat. 

Halting  at  the  village  Tumpait,  situated  close  to  Karhu 
Sura,  he  visited  the  tomb  of  the  Pangeran  Karhu  Sura,  who 
was  descended  from  Abdalah,  the  eldest  son  of  Baden  Pdtah. 
The  sultan  was  here  told  of  a  prophecy  which  foretold  the 
immediate  downfall  of  the  kingdom  of  Pajang.  The  effect 
of  this  on  him  was  so  great  that  he  fainted  and  fell  from  his 
elephant.  The  Senapati  now  proceeded  to  Pajang  and  was 
pardoned  by  the  sultan  for  his  conduct. 

One  of  the  Senapati' s  retinue  now  proposed  to  assassinate 
the  sultan,  but  the  former  dechned  to  hsten  to  this,  but, 
notwithstanding,  he  secretly  gave  the  sultan  a  strong  poison 
from  which  he  died. 

The  Pajajaran  and  Majapahit  Regalia. — In  consequence  of 

H  2 


100  JAVA 

this  a  succession  war  broke  out,  in  which  the  senapati,  after 
defeating  the  sultan's  son,  seized  the  regaha,  which  had 
descended  for  the  most  part  from  the  princes  of  Majapahit  or 
Pajajaran,  and  consisted  of  the  royal  saddle  called  gataya, 
the  head-dress  called  machang  gugiih,  and  a  set  of  gamelan 
called  Sekar  dalima,  besides  all  the  insignia  and  orna- 
ments of  royalty,  many  of  which  are  still  preserved  in 
the  regalia  of  the  princes  of  Soerakarta  and  Jogyakarta 
(Djockjokarta). 

From  the  possession  of  this  regaha  a  certain  right  was 
derived  by  which  the  holder  was  supposed  to  be  the  here- 
ditary sovereign  of  the  whole  island  of  Java. 

In  consequence  the  Senapati  lost  no  time  in  raising  his 
family  to  the  highest  dignities.  He  assumed  for  himself 
the  title  of  Sultan,  and  elevated  all  his  nephews  to  the  rank 
of  P  anger  mis,  or  princes.  His  next  step  was  to  collect  an 
army  together  and  train  it  in  the  use  of  arms  and  to  regular 
discipline.  When  ready  it  was  marched  eastwards  against 
the  Adipati  of  Surabaya,  who  at  this  time  held  supreme 
authority  over  the  eastern  districts  as  Widana  to  the  Sultan 
of  Pajang. 

The  troops  of  Surabaya,  together  with  those  of  the  chiefs 
of  Pranaraga  and  Madion,  assembled  at  Jipang/  where  they 
awaited  the  arrival  of  the  Matdrem  forces.  At  the  moment 
when  a  general  engagement  was  about  to  take  place  a  letter 
was  delivered  to  both  chiefs  from  the  Arab  Susuhunan  of 
Cheribon  requesting  them  to  desist  from  fighting. 

This  they  agreed  to,  but  the  adipati  soon  repented  and 
assembled  his  army  anew  to  march  to  Matdrem.  Sultan 
Senapati  hearing  of  this,  marched  to  Madion^  and  seized  the 
Dalavi  Kraton,  the  chief  having  previously  fled  with  his  son 
to  Surabaya,  leaving  behind  him  his  beautiful  daughter 
whom  Senapati  married.     The  march  was  now  continued 

1  Near  Blora. 
'  Madioen. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     101 

towards  the  province  of  Pasurnan,  of  which  Senapati 
determined  to  make  himself  master. 

The  chief  of  Pasurnan  was  incHned  to  surrender,  but  was 
dissuaded  from  doing  so  by  his  pateh.  One  day  when 
Senapati,  accompanied  by  only  forty  men  of  his  bodyguard, 
was  reconnoitring  the  enemy's  camp  he  met  the  pateh,  who 
had  come  out  with  the  same  intention  ;  a  skirmish  took  place 
and  the  pateh  was  wounded  by  a  lance  and  fell  to  the  ground. 

Sultan  Senapati  lifted  him  up,  and,  placing  him  on  a 
mare,  sent  him  back  to  the  chief,  with  a  letter  tied  round  his 
neck.  The  chief  of  Pasurnan  no  sooner  saw  him  in  this 
disgraceful  predicament  than  he  repented  of  having  taken 
his  advice,  and  ordering  his  head  to  be  severed  from  his 
body,  sent  it  to  Senapati  in  token  of  submission. 

After  this  Senapati  returned  to  Matarem  and  appointed 
the  late  chief  of  Madion  chief  of  Jipang  or  Jipan-}  The 
Sultan  Senapati  carried  his  empire  in  the  west  as  far  as  the 
rivers  Losari  and  Indramayu,  bringing  all  the  western 
provinces,  which  included  Cheribon,  under  his  authority. 

The  continued  opposition  of  the  eastern  people,  however, 
prevented  him  from  fixing  the  boundaries  to  the  east,  and 
during  his  whole  reign  they  were  never  subject  to  his 
authority. 

To  the  provinces,  however,  of  Matarem,  Bagelen,  Banyu- 
mas,  Pajang,  and  Jipang  which  descended  to  him  from  his 
father  he  added  those  of  Pati,  Kudus,  Semarang,  Kendal  and 
Kaliwungu. 

Death  of  Senapati,  the  Founder  of  the  Second  Empire  of 
Matarem. — In  1600  Sultan  Senapati  died.  As  founder  of 
the  Matarem  Empire  and  of  the  dynasty  which  still  retains 
a  nominal  rule  in  Java  his  memory  is  held  by  the  Javanese 
in  high  esteem.  He  is  also  respected  for  the  discipline  he 
introduced  into  the  army,  and  the  valour,  ability,  and 
high-mindedness    which    he    always    displayed.     By    the 

1  Transformed  sometimes  by  Europeans  into  "  Japan." 


102  JAVA 

Javans  he  is  looked  on  as  another  Alexander,  and  he  is  the 
first  in  their  history  who  is  considered  to  have  understood 
the  art  of  war. 

Sultaji  Jolang. — Before  SeJiapati's  death  he  made  his 
eldest  son  Pangeran  Puger  governor  of  the  new  province  of 
Demdk,  and  appointed  his  younger  son  Mas  Jolang  to  be 
his  successor.  After  his  death,  how^ever,  the  eldest  son 
naturally  disputed  the  right  of  his  younger  brother,  but  the 
latter  defeated  him  and  was  duly  acknowledged  as  Panem- 
hahan  or  Sultan.  Sultan  Jolang  died  in  1613  during  another 
war  of  conquest  in  the  desa  called  Krapijak,  from  which  he 
is  mostly  named  Panenibahan  Seda  Krapijak. 

He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  named  Panambahan 
Merta  Pura,  but  this  prince  not  being  able  to  conduct  the 
government  on  account  of  ill-health,  or  more  probably 
being  removed  by  the  intrigues  of  his  family,  who  declared 
him  to  be  insane,  made  way  for  his  younger  brother  Baden 
Rangsang,  known  as  Sultan  Ageng.  The  name  Rangsang 
not  suiting  him,  he  altered  it  to  Chakra  Kusuma. 

Sultan  Ageng. — This  prince  began  a  flourishing  reign  by  a 
signal  victory  over  the  Surabayan  and  Madurese  forces, 
through  which  he  brought  the  eastern  provinces  of  Malang, 
Untung,  Japan,^  Wirasaha,^  Pasuruan,  and  Surabaya  under 
his  subjection  ;  following  up  his  successes,  he  subdued  ali 
the  eastern  provinces  as  far  as  Balamhangan  on  the  Straits 
of  Bali,  thus  once  more  reuniting  under  one  chief  all  the 
eastern  provinces  that  had  originally  acknowledged  the 
authority  of  the  Rajah  of  Mendang  Kamulan,  in  the  first 
empire  of  Matdrem. 

Dissensions  at  this  period  arose  between  the  people  of 
Bantam  and  those  of  the  Sunda  districts,  and  the  chief  of 
Sumedang^  applied  to  Matdrem  for  assistance  ;  being  invested 

1  The  province  of  Modjokerts,  or  old  diatriot  of  Modjspait. 
*  Near  Pasuruan. 
'  Soemedang, 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     103 

by  the  sultan  with  the  chief  authority  over  those  districts, 
he  soon  induced  all  the  far  western  chiefs,  alarmed  at  the 
approach  of  the  Matarem  arms,  to  acknowledge  his  supre- 
macy. 

Some  years  before  this,  however,  the  Enghsh  and  Dutch 
had  established  themselves  at  Jakatra,  and  were  already 
beginning  to  prove  aggressive  to  their  neighbours.  First 
the  town  of  Jakara  was  plundered  and  laid  in  ashes,  and 
henceforward  Jahatra  was  disconnected  from  Matarem. 
In  1622  an  embassy  from  the  Sultan  of  Matarem  was  sent 
to  the  Governor- General  Coen,  who  returned  his  compli- 
ments to  the  sultan  by  an  embassy  under  Dr.  de  Haan,  who 
acknowledged  the  Prince  of  Matarem  as  the  Sovereign  of 
Java  under  the  title  of  Sultan  Ageng  Muhammed,  the  high 
title  of  Siilta7i  being  properly  and  officially  obtained  through 
an  Arab  Sheikh  at  Mecca. 

Reign  of  the  Susuhunan  Ha  Mangku  Bat  I.  begins. — Upon 
his  death  in  1645  his  eldest  son,  then  26  years  of  age, 
succeeded  him  as  Susuhunan  Ha  Mangku  Rat,^  and  during 
his  reign  the  empire  began  to  dechne  for  the  second  time  in 
its  history.  Ha  Ma^igku  Rat  took  up  his  residence  at  a  new 
kraton^  which  had  been  built  by  his  father  at  Pleret,  a  few 
miles  to  the  south  of  Pasar  Gede,  where  the  old  kraton 
stood. 

The  Susuhunan  a  Morister  and  Tyrant. — Mangku  Eat  I. 
was  a  most  inhuman  tyrant,  a  veritable  demon  who  delighted 
in  slaughter,  and  his  whole  reign  was  marked  with  mis- 
government  and  almost  inconceivable  crimes.  On  coming 
to  his  throne  he  murdered  in  cold  blood  more  than  twenty 
thousand  relations  and  subjects. 

His  mother,  however,  managed  at  last  to  stem  his  anger 
— he  was  apparently  half  mad — and  effected  peace  between 
him  and  his  uncle  the  Pangeran  Puger,  with  whom  he  was 

1  Sometimes  written  Ha  Mengku, 

2  Destroyed  in  1826  during  the  Java  war. 


104  JAVA 

hotly  at  variance.  There  was  therefore  a  short  period  of 
tranquilHty  at  Matarem,  during  which  the  court  was  removed 
from  Pleret  to  Karta,  less  than  a  mile  farther  to  the  south. 

In  1659  the  cruelty  of  this  atrocious  tyrant  again  showed 
itself.  His  own  son  the  hereditary  prince  having  married  a 
Surabaya  princess,  who  was  being  bred  up  for  the  harem  of 
his  father,  was  forced  to  stab  his  own  wife  in  his  father's 
presence,  after  which  he  wreaked  his  vengeance  on  the 
supposed  authors  of  the  crime  of  allowing  any  one  to  marry 
a  girl  brought  up  for  the  royal  harem. 

The  Eegent  of  Surabaya,  his  grandfather,  with  all  his 
wives,  children  and  grandchildren,  was  killed.  His  son  was 
banished. 

From  this  period  the  Javan  historians  state  that  the 
Susuhunan  never  forgave  an  offence  however  trifling,  and 
*'  when  he  was  unhappy  he  always  put  to  death  those  who 
were  the  cause  of  his  unhappiness,  and  on  the  slightest 
occasion  was  subject  to  the  most  violent  gusts  of  terrible 
anger." 

Death  of  one  of  the  Susuhunan' s  Wives. — In  1667  on  the 
death  of  one  of  his  favourite  wives,  Batu  Pamalang,  he 
confined  one  hundred  of  her  attendants  in  a  dungeon  below 
the  kraton  and  deprived  them  of  food  until  they  all  died,  as 
a  befitting  manifestation  of  his  sorrow.  The  injustice  and 
severity  of  the  Susuhunan  became  still  greater  as  he  advanced 
in  years.  His  fits  of  anger  became  more  frequent,  and  day 
and  night  were  employed  in  barbarous  executions.  There 
was  no  security  for  life  ;  every  one  was  upon  his  guard,  and 
fear  reigned  among  the  highest  and  the  lowest. 

Terrible  Cruelties  of  the  Susuhunan. — Among  the  numerous 
atrocities  committed  by  this  monster  he  violated  his  own 
daughter  Ratu  Bratva,  although  she  was  betrothed  to  the 
son  of  the  Sultan  of  Cheribon. 

One  of  his  fathers-in-law,  the  Eegent  of  Madiyun,  who 
had  ventured  to  oppose  the  tyrant,  was  seemingly  pardoned, 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     105 

and  received  Tvith  all  honours  in  the  kraton,  only  to  be 
krissed  (stabbed)  before  the  tyrant's  eyes  together  with  all 
his  kith  and  kin,  among  them  one  of  the  Susuliunan's  own 
daughters,  the  regent's  concubine.  Their  bodies  were 
thrown  into  the  river  to  be  carried  out  to  sea.  To  crown 
this  act,  as  it  were,  a  massacre  unparalleled  in  the  annals  of 
the  country  was  carried  out.  At  a  signal  from  a  cannon 
fired  from  the  palace  all  the  priests  of  Matdrem  with  their 
wives  and  children,  to  the  number  of  upwards  of  six  thousand 
souls,  were  indiscriminately  butchered  for  being  opposed  to 
his  cruelties.  On  the  following  morning  when  the  Susu- 
hunan  appeared  in  public,  it  was  observed  he  was  much 
agitated  and  remained  "without  saluting  his  courtiers  or 
uttering  a  word  for  the  space  of  an  hour. 

Punishment  of  the  wicked  Susuhunan. — Ha  Mangku  Bat^ 
at  last  met  with  condign  punishment  in  the  war  forced  on 
him  by  Truna  Jaya,  who  was  a  grandson  of  the  Regent  of 
Madura,  Chakra  Ningrat  (or  Ningkat). 

Truna  Jaya  seized  the  Susuhunan's  kraton  and  the 
regalia,  including  the  magnificent  crown  of  the  ancient 
empire  of  Majapahit  with  its  enormous  diamond.  There 
was  a  desperate  engagement,  in  which  the  Susuhunan's 
uncle,  the  venerable  Pangeran  Purhaya,  80  years  of  age, 
summoned  all  the  Matdrem  chiefs  around  him  and  went 
first  into  the  field  of  battle,  performing  extraordinary  feats 
of  valour,  till  his  horse  was  shot  under  him  and  he  was 
overpowered  after  a  desperate  fight  on  foot.  Thirty 
thousand  lives  on  the  two  sides  were  lost  in  this  fight. 

Death  of  Ha  Mangku  Rat  I. — The  conquered  tyrant,  who 
vdth.  his  son  fled  first  to  Indragiri  in  Sumatra,^  eventually 
settled  in  the  Banyumas  and  died  at  the  desa  Wana  Jasa  not 
far  from  Ajibarang. 

In  conformity  to  his  request  his  body  was  carried  across 

^  Called  also  Ha  MengJcu  Eat. 
^  Now  known  as  Rioiiw. 


106  JAVA 

the  country  toTvards  Tegal  in  search  of  a  spot  where  the 
earth  was  sweet-scented  and  buried  a  few  miles  inland  from 
the  town.  There  it  still  lies,  the  tomb  being  held  in  high 
regard,  and  it  is  from  this  circumstance  that  the  place  goes 
under  the  appellation  of  Tegal  Wangi  or  Tegal  Arum. 
Wangi  and  Arum  signifying  "  fragrant  "  or  "  sweet  smell- 
ing."' 

Hamangku  Rat's  crimes  are  to-day  forgotten,  and  nothing 
but  reverence  and  homage  is  paid  to  his  remains. 

Ancient  Majnpahit  Regalia  removed  to  Kcdiri. — Truna 
Jaya  after  his  victory  hastily  removed  all  the  plunder 
together  with  the  Susuhunan's  daughters  from  Matdrem  to 
Kediri,  which  was  the  headquarters  of  the  rebel  chiefs  who 
had  conspired  for  the  downfall  of  Matdrem. 

Ha  Mangku  Rat  II. — The  son  who  had  followed  his 
dethroned  father  in  his  flight  was  acknowledged  as  Siisu- 
hunan  Ha^riangku  Rat  II.  hy  the  representative  of  the  Dutch 
East  India  Company,  Admiral  Speelman,  and  after  a  long 
war  against  his  uncle  the  Pangeran  Pugar,  who  had  been 
acknowledged  as  prince  by  part  of  the  population,  was 
recognised  by  the  Javans  as  the  rightful  ruler.  He  was, 
however,  but  a  weak,  unworthy  wretch,  who  cared  for 
nothing  but  his  wives,  v/hom  he  guarded  with  brutal 
jealousy.  He  sent  to  Admiral  Speelman  and  asked  him  to 
procure  him  another  woman  whom  he  had  long  desired  to 
possess.  She  was  a  princess  of  Blitar,  who  was  the  divorced 
wife  of  one  of  his  brothers.  After  the  conquest  of  the 
kraton  this  young  lady  had  been  carried  away  by  Truna 
Jaya  and  given  as  a  present  to  the  eldest  Sultan  of  Cherihon, 
who  in  his  turn  had  sent  her  to  the  Sultan  of  Banten.  Speel- 
man naturally  scorned  to  accede  to  his  request. 

The  war  in  the  eastern  provinces  was  continued  against 
Truna  Jaya,  the  young  Susuhunan  follow^ing  the  Dutch 
army,  who  now  tried  to  put  an  end  to  a  struggle  which  was 
very  detrimental  to  the  commercial  welfare  of  the  country. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     107 

Kedin  besieged. —  Kedin  was  besieged  for  nearly  three 
months,  and  was  at  last  taken  by  assault,  Truna  Jaya 
making  his  escape.  Great  riches  were  found  in  the  palace — 
chests  of  Spanish  dollars,  besides  ingots  of  gold  and  the 
most  valuable  part  of  the  ancient  regalia. 

The  Susuhunan  claimed  nothing  but  the  crown  of  Maja- 
pahit,  leaving  the  remainder  to  be  distributed  among  the 
troops. 

The  Crown  of  Majapahit. — When  the  crown  was  delivered 
to  him  it  was  seen  that  its  most  splendid  and  beautiful 
ornament,  the  enormous  centre  diamond,  was  missing. 
Susuhunan  immediately  set  inquiries  on  foot,  but  to  the 
great  grief  of  the  Susuhunan  and  all  the  Javan  chiefs  the 
jewel  was  never  recovered.  A  Dutch  officer,  Captain 
Francois  Tack  by  name,  is  generally  thought  to  have 
purloined  it. 

Surrender  of  Truna  Jaya. — At  last  TniwaJa?/a  surrendered 
on  the  condition  of  his  life  being  spared.  On  arriving  at  the 
Jcraton  he  entered  the  hall  of  audience  with  all  his  wives, 
where  the  Susuhunan  was  seated  with  Admiral  Speelman 
and  numerous  Dutch  officers. 

When  he  drew  near  to  the  Susuhunan  to  show  his  sub- 
mission, Truna  Jaya  kissed  his  knee,  but  was  stabbed  by 
the  prince  with  a  kris  while  in  the  act.  The  inhuman 
Susuhunan  now  ordered  his  assembled  people  to  finish  the 
work  he  had  begun,  Avhereupon  they  fell  on  the  unfortunate 
wretch,  stabbing  him  in  a  thousand  places  and  cutting  his 
body  to  pieces.  They  then  severed  the  head  from  the  body, 
rolled  it  in  the  mud,  made  a  mat  of  it,  and  at  last  threw  it 
into  a  ditch  by  order  of  the  Susuhunaii. 

The  war  against  the  Madurese  and  the  people  of  East 
Java  being  now  at  an  end,  the  kraton  at  Karta  was  re- 
occupied. 

The  new  Kraton  at  Karta  Sura. — Shortly  after,  however, 
a  new  kraton  was  built  at  Wana  Keiia,  seven  miles  to  the 


108  JAVA 

west  of  the  present  town  of  Sura  Karta,^  which  received  the 
name  of  Karta  Sura. 

The  empire  of  Matdrem  was  now  left  existing,  but  its 
independence  and  grandeur  had  gone.  The  power  in  Java 
was  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company. 

A  new  character  at  this  period  appears  on  the  stage, 
under  the  title  of  Sura  Pati.  Tliis  man,  whose  name  was 
Si  Untung,  had  been  the  slave  of  a  Dutchman  at  Batavia  of 
the  name  of  Mohr,^  who  is  represented  to  have  been  of  low- 
origin,  but  to  have  been  advanced  to  the  highest  dignities, 
even  to  a  seat  in  the  council,  by  means  of  the  riches  and 
influence  he  had  acquired  through  the  services  of  this  slave, 
to  whom  he  became  in  consequence  much  attached.  Mohr, 
however,  discovering  an  intimacy  between  Untung  and  his 
daughter,  chastised  him  severely  and  afterwards  had  him 
confined  in  the  public  stocks. 

Untung  contrived  to  effect  his  escape  from  them  during 
the  night  and  to  release  his  fellow-prisoners.  They  then 
fell  upon  the  guard  which  mounted  at  daylight,  and  taking 
them  unawares,  massacred  them  all.  He  now  decamped 
towards  the  Privangan  lands,  and  passing  through  Jakafra 
and  Jasinga,^  raised  two  thousand  followers,  with  whom  he 
reached  Kerta  Sura. 

Captain  Francois  Tack,  whom  the  Company  sent  to  Kerta 
Sura  to  demand  the  extradition  of  the  deserter,  met  with 
resistance,  as  the  whole  force,  consisting  of  four  hundred 
Europeans  and  six  hundred  natives,  was  fiercely  attacked 
in  the  alun  alun,*  and  nearly  the  whole  party  was  killed. 
Tack  himself  being  severely  wounded. 

Fresh  campaigns  followed,  ending  in  the  more  complete 
subjection  of  Matdrem  and  the  increase  of  the  Dutch  power. 

1  Soera  Kertu. 

2  Presumably  one  and  the  same  as  the  rich  clergyman  of  that  name. 

9  Until  lately  the  property  of  the  Motman  family,  formerly  belonging 
to  the  Englishman  Robert  Addison. 
*  Aloon  aloon  (open  space  or  park). 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     109 

In  the  meantime  family  feuds  disturbed  the  peace  of  the 
kraton ;  the  hereditary  prince,  Pangeran  Adipati  Hmnangku 
Nagara,  had  married  the  daughter  of  his  cousin  Pangeran 
Piigar,  but  in  a  month  began  to  disregard  her,  paying  more 
attention  to  the  other  ladies  of  his  harem.  She  returned, 
therefore,  to  her  father's  protection.  One  of  the  distin- 
guished personalities  at  the  court  at  this  time  was  the  son 
of  the  prime  minister,  a  young  man  of  agreeable  manners 
and  handsome  appearance  called  Su  Kro. 

The  hereditary  prince,  jealous  of  the  universal  admiration 
which  he  enjoyed,  determined  to  lower  him  by  the  infliction 
of  the  greatest  possible  disgrace.  Naturally  of  a  fiery 
disposition,  he  became  excessively  enraged  at  an  accident 
which  occurred  to  him  while  hunting  in  the  forest  of  Randa 
Wahana,^  which  occasioned  a  lameness  in  his  legs.  As  soon 
as  he  returned  home  he  sent  for  this  youth,  whom  he 
immediately  ordered  to  be  bound  and  severely  flogged  with 
a  rattan.  He  then  directed  him  to  be  tied  to  a  tree  infested 
with  red  ants  of  a  peculiarly  unpleasant  kind  that  sting 
fiercely  ;  they  soon  covered  his  body — a  favourite  mode  of 
inflicting  tortures.  Here  the  son  of  the  prime  minister 
suffered  dreadfully  ;  but  his  tortures  were  not  yet  at  an 
end.  He  was  afterwards  again  flogged  till  he  nearly  died, 
and  then  sent  to  the  house  of  his  father,  who,  although  much 
enraged,  was  obliged  to  suppress  his  resentment. 

Determined  afterwards  to  revenge  himself,  the  young  man 
sought  out  the  neglected  wife  of  the  hereditary  prince,  who, 
as  before  mentioned,  was  a  daughter  of  the  Pangeran  Pugar. 
and  had  been  obliged  to  leave  her  husband  and  fly  to  her 
father  on  account  of  his  brutal  character  and  manners.  An 
attachment  between  Su  Kro  and  the  young  lady  was  soon 
formed,  but  the  criminal  connection  was  discovered  through 
an  intercepted  letter  from  the  lover  to  his  mistress. 

1  Near  where  the  sugar  factory  of  Randa  or  Eandoe  Goenting  now 
etande* 


110  JAVA 

The  hereditary  prince,  Hamangku  Nagara,  now  went  to 
his  father  in  a  rage  and  told  the  story  in  his  own  style, 
blaming  the  P  anger  an  Pugar  for  it  all. 

The  old  Susuhunan  was  highly  incensed  at  the  discovery, 
and  the  Pangeran  Pugar,  to  avert  from  himself  and  his 
family  the  effects  of  his  resentment,  resolved  to  take  the 
life  of  his  daughter.  He  accordingly  ordered  his  seven  sons 
into  his  presence,  and  informed  them  of  the  necessity  of 
their  becoming  the  instruments  for  taking  the  life  of  their 
sister  in  order  to  avoid  the  wrath  of  their  uncle  and  sovereign. 
They  naturally  at  first  refused,  but  at  length  yielded  on  his 
threats  of  punishment.  The  place  chosen  for  the  execution 
was  the  prince's  own  garden.  The  young  princes  having 
communicated  to  their  sister  the  fatal  orders  with  which 
they  were  charged,  she  received  them  with  calmness,  merely 
asking  for  time  to  bathe  herself.  When  this  was  done  a  veil 
was  thrown  over  her  and  the  brothers  pulled  the  fatal  cord. 
The  lover  Su  Kro  was  now  sought  for,  his  life  having  been 
demanded  by  the  Susuhunan  and  croum  prince.  The  father 
of  Su  KrOy  however,  endeavoured  to  assuage  the  anger  of 
the  sovereign,  who  thereupon  had  him  seized,  deprived  of  his 
kris,  and  confined  in  a  cage  of  bamboo.  Su  Kro  hearing  all 
this,  determined  to  sell  his  life  dearly,  and  surrounded 
himself  with  some  desperate  and  determined  Bugis  from  the 
island  of  Celebes,  who  belonged  to  the  warlike  tribe  of 
that  name  in  Sumatra.  He  was,  however,  found  by 
some  troops  of  the  Susuhunan,  who  secured  and  disarmed 
him  and  immediately  dosed  him  with  a  poison,  whose 
effect  was  slow  and  lingering.  During  his  last  agonies 
the  Susuhunan  kept  on  pressing  for  his  death,  sending 
repeated  messages  from  the  kraton  inquiring  how  it  was. 
At  last  the  attendants  or  those  responsible  for  his  despatch 
seized  the  unhappy  victim  by  the  hair,  dragged  him  on  to 
the  ground,  and  strangled  him  by  stamping  upon  his 
neck. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     111 

The  punishment  of  the  prime  minister,  who  was  confined 
in  a  cage,  was  meantime  reserved. 

Hamaiigku  Rat  III.  :  the  Sunan  Mas. — Susuhunan 
Hamangku  Rat  II.  died  in  the  year  1685,  and  his  son 
Hamangku  Nagara,  of  whom  so  much  has  ah-eady  been 
related,  ascended  the  throne  as  Hamangku  Rat  III., 
generahy  called  the  Siman  or  Susuhan  Mas,  and  sometimes 
Hamangku  Bat  Mas,  or  Mangkurat  Mas.  He  was  a  worthy 
descendant  of  his  vile  grandfather,  who,  as  has  been  related, 
died  in  the  Banyumas  district  in  exile.  On  his  coming  to 
the  throne  he  excited  much  disapprobation  and  disgust  by 
his  ungi'ateful  neglect  of  the  customary  rites  due  to  the  body 
of  his  dead  father  and  his  indecent  eagerness  to  ascend  the 
throne  before  it  had  barely  been  vacated. 

The  practice  or  aclat  of  the  country  required  him  to 
wash  and  purify  the  corpse,  but  he  left  this  task  to  the 
women. 

As  soon  as  he  was  crowned  he  remembered  the  father  of 
Su  Kro,  and  he  ordered  him  to  be  put  to  death  with  all  his 
relations.  Javans  of  this  stamp  never  forget,  although 
they  know  well  how  to  dissimulate  their  vindictiveness. 
Mangkurat  Mas  was  in  this  respect  a  true  Javan  besides 
being  a  voluptuous  and  wanton  tyrant.  The  more  pain  he 
could  inflict,  the  more  deaths  he  could  cause,  the  greater 
satisfaction  it  gave  liim,  and  his  appetite  in  this  direction 
grew  w^orse  as  he  grew  older. 

Dm-ing  his  reign  any  Javan  who  had  a  beautiful  wife  or 
anything  exciting  the  desires  of  the  Susuhunan  had  to  look 
to  his  safety,  for  he  was  seized  and  murdered  whilst  his  wife 
was  honoured  with  a  place  in  the  harem,  but  only  tem- 
porarily, as  this  estabhshment  was  continually  being 
replenished  by  new  inmates,  the  older  ones  being  turned 
aside.  One  day  whilst  sitting  in  a  little  stone  house  in  one 
of  the  squares  of  the  kraton  watching  his  tigers  he  had  a 
hundred  of  his  women  thrown  naked  into  the  arena  of  the 


112  JAVA 

beasts,  delighting  in  seeing  them  torn  to  pieces  before  his 
eyes.     Nothing  softened  this  inhuman  monster. 

Once  while  out  hunting  game  in  the  district  of  Pronorogo, 
where  the  inhabitants  were  not  used  to  court  manners, 
Mangkurat  Mas  with  his  bow  and  arrow  killed  a  deer ;  the 
chief  of  the  district  of  Pronorogo  seeing  the  game  fall,  ran 
and  directed  a  priest  to  slaughter  the  animal  according  to 
the  Mahometan  rites,  that  it  might  be  legal  food.  He  was, 
however,  unused  to  the  severe  punctilio  of  the  Javanese 
court,  which  permits  of  no  order,  however  trivial,  being 
given  in  the  royal  presence  without  the  "  nod  of  assent." 
The  brutal  Mangkurat  Mas  was  furious  and  proceeded  to  the 
spot  to  punish  this  gross  breach  of  etiquette,  and  before  the 
thousands  who  were  assembled,  including  the  females  of 
his  own  family,  ordered  the  chief  to  be  emasculated,  and 
gloated  on  seeing  his  host  faint  before  him  from  the  intense 
pain  of  the  operation,  which  was  performed  with  an  ordinary 
hunting  knife.  This  act  was  too  much  for  even  the  for- 
bearance and  slavish  loyalty  of  the  Javans,  and  the  relations 
of  the  chief  of  Pronorogo  were  just  about  to  retaliate,  when 
the  Susuhunan,  who  had  received  notice  of  their  intentions, 
eluded  their  vengeance  by  a  precipitate  flight.  All  the 
Javans  of  quality  fled  from  the  court,  among  them  two  sons 
of  F  anger  an  Pugar,  who  raised  a  rebellion  with  the  object  of 
dethroning  this  cruel  monster  and  making  their  father 
Susuhunan.  Pangeran  Pugar,  who  had  heard  of  the  sen- 
tence of  death  against  himself,  fled  to  Samarang,  where  the 
Dutch  received  him  and  conditionally  proclaimed  him 
sovereign  of  Java. 

As  soon  as  the  Susuhunan  Mangkurat  Mas  was  informed 
of  the  departure  of  Pugar  he  appHed  to  the  Governor  of 
Samarang  to  have  him  delivered  up,  but  received  for  reply 
an  intimation  that  he  was  under  the  protection  of  the  Dutch, 
and  that  if  the  Susuhunan  wanted  him  he  must  come  to 
fetch  him  himBelf. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     113 

Enraged  at  this  evasion,  he  ordered  that  Baden  Suria 
Kasuma,  the  son  of  the  Pangeran  Pugar,  should  be  put  to 
death.  The  young  prince  was  accordingly  brought  into  his 
presence  for  that  purpose,  when  a  great  eruption  of  the 
Merapi  suddenly  took  place,  the  mountain  emitting  a  sound 
like  thunder  and  a  flame  which  lit  up  all  Kerta  Sura.  The 
Susiihunan  thinking  that  his  end  was  approaching,  sent 
the  young  prince  back  into  confinement,  when  the  sounds 
immediately  ceased  and  the  mountain  emitted  no  more 
flame. 

The  Sunan  conceiving  now  all  danger  to  be  at  an  end, 
once  more  ordered  the  execution  of  the  young  prince,  but  a 
more  violent  eruption  than  the  first  instantly  rent  the 
mountain  asunder.  The  alarm  of  the  Sunan  was  now  real, 
and  considering  this  w^as  a  garo-garo,  or  sign  that  the  prince 
was  favoured  by  the  Almighty,  he  altered  his  intentions, 
received  his  intended  victim  into  favour,  and  appointed 
him  a  pangerayi  with  an  assignment  of  one  thousand  chachas 
of  land. 

This  caused  the  first  Javan  succession  war,  which  raged 
in  the  central  and  eastern  districts  of  the  island  for  four 
years,  depopulating  the  country  wholesale. 

The  Susuhunan  Mangkurat  Mas  banished  to  Ceylon. — The 
end  was  the  seizure  of  Susuhunan  Mangkurat  Mas  by  the 
Dutch,  who  banished  him  to  Ceylon  (which  was  still  in  their 
possession).  Notwithstanding  he  did  his  best  to  come  to 
some  arrangement  with  them  by  presenting  them  with  a 
sum  of  70,000  dollars  in  specie  and  a  promise  to  comply  with 
every  requisition  if  they  would  only  recognise  him  as 
sovereign  of  Java. 

Pangeran  Pugdr  installed  as  Susuhunan  by  the  Dutch. — The 
Pangeran  Pugar,  although  acknowledged  as  sovereign  since 

1703,  was  not  actually  pubhcly  installed  mitil  the  19th  June, 

1704,  at  Semarang.     In  compensation  of  the  expenses  of 
the  Dutch,  and  with  the  promise  of  their  direct  protection, 

J. — VOL.    I.  I 


114  JAVA 

Pugar  ceded,  or  rather  was  forced  to  cede,  to  them  the 
provinces  of  Demdk,  Japara,  and  Tegal. 

On  ascending  the  throne  he  assumed  with  the  concurrence 
of  the  Dutch  the  title  of  Susuhunan  Paku  Buvana  Senapati, 
Ingalaga  Abdul  Rachman  Panatagama,  which  may  be 
rendered  "  The  Saint  who  is  the  Nail  of  the  Universe,  the 
Chief  Commander  in  War,  the  Slave  of  God,  and  Propagator 
of  the  True  Faith  "  (see  titles,  Chapter  XIX.). 

Death  of  Paku  Buvana  I. — Pugar,  or  Paku  Buvana  I.,^ 
died  in  1719  at  the  age  of  70,  and  the  Dutch  East  India 
Company  recognised  his  son  Pangeran  Prabu  as  his  successor. 
His  claim  was  disputed,  however,  and  another  war  of 
succession  broke  out,  at  the  end  of  which  he  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  title  of  Susuhunan,  but  his  subjection  to 
the  Company  was  reconfirmed. 

One  of  the  fiist  acts  of  his  reign  was  the  murder  of  his 
uncle  Pangeran  Aria  Matarayn  together  with  his  six  sons 
and  two  sons-in-law.  These  troublesome  rivals  were 
strangled. 

The  rest  of  the  disaffected  princes  with  their  adherents 
were  shipped  to  Ceylon  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  but 
his  son  Mangku  Nagara,  who  had  joined  the  rebels,  was 
pardoned  by  his  relenting  father. 

Sunan  Prahu  upon  his  death  in  1727  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  Paku  Buvana  II.,  who,  being  only  16  years  old,  was 
placed  under  the  joint  guardianship  of  his  mother  and  the 
prime  minister.  The  reign  of  this  prince  also  opened  with 
a  murder,  his  elder  brother  being  suspected  of  a  love  affair 
with  one  of  the  prince's  concubines.  The  concubine  was 
strangled,  while  the  brother  was  sent  to  the  Dutch  fort  at 
Semarang,  whence  he  was  banished  to  Ceylon.  Later  on  it 
transpired  that  the  suspicion  against  him  and  the  concubine 
was  groundless. 

In  1733  the  prime  minister  was  sent  to  Semarang,  where 

^  Sometimes  called  Buwana. 


THK    KANARIE    LANK,    SAMARANG. 


TJE    UKEAT    BUDDHA    IN    THE    CUANDI    MKNDUT. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     115 

he  was  divested  of  all  his  dignities,  then  relegated  to  un- 
healthy prisons  at  Batavia,  and  finally  deported  to  Ceylon. 

Accounts  were  now  received  from  Ceylon  of  the  death  of 
the  ex-Susuhiinan  Mcnigkiirat  Mas,  and  at  the  request  of  the 
new  Susuhunan  the  family  of  the  deceased  were  permitted 
to  return  to  Kerta  Sura.  On  them  distinguished  titles  were 
conferred,  and  considerable  grants  of  land  were  made  to 
them.  To  Mangku  Nagara  the  Susuhunan  gave  the  name 
of  Wira  Mengala  with  one  thousand  chachas  of  land  ;  to 
Mangku  Mingrat  he  gave  the  name  of  Pangeran  Tepa  Sana 
with  nine  hundred  chachas  ;  and  to  Baden  Jaya  Kasiima  the 
title  of  Pangeran  with  three  hundred  chachas.  The  fourth 
son  died,  but  his  eldest  child  received  the  title  of  Pangeran 
Purbaya  with  an  assignment  of  saiva. 

The  Chinese  Rising. — The  year  1740  is  always  remembered 
as  that  of  a  great  calamity  in  wliich  it  was  clearly  manifest 
that  the  Susuhunan  was  a  wholly  untrustworthy  vassal. 
This  calamity  was  the  rebellion  of  the  Chinese  under  the 
Dutch  governor-general  Valkenier^  at  Batavia  and  the 
subsequent  Chinese  rebellion  over  almost  the  whole  north 
coast. 

When  the  Chinese  determined  to  rebel  against  the  Dutch 
they  clandestinely  negotiated  with  Paku  Buvana,  who  was 
burning  to  free  himself  from  a  highly  noxious  yoke,  and  who 
was  in  hopes  that  an  opportunity  had  at  last  arrived  to  get 
rid  of  the  Dutch. 

His  first  act  was  to  seize  the  Dutch  garrison  in  the  fort 
at  Kerta  Sura,  which  was  taken  by  surprise,  the  unfortunate 
men  being  offered  the  alternative  between  death  ^  and 
circumcision  with  conversion. 

The  Chinese  and  Javan  Forces  march  to  Samarang. — 
The  Chinese  and  Javan  forces  were  united  and  marched  to 

1  Who  died  in  prison  after  being  there  eight  years.  As  governor -general 
he  is  said  to  hare  made  several  millions  of  guilders. 

2  Those  that  preferred  death  were  beaten  into  a  jelly  with  bludgeons. 

I  2 


116  JAVA 

Samarang,  intending  to  expel  the  Dutch,  but  the  task  was 
greater  than  had  been  anticipated,  and  the  latter,  securely 
entrenched  with  a  strong  wall  on  one  side  and  the  sea  on 
the  other,  were  content  to  act  on  the  defensive,  thus  stale- 
mating their  enemy.  The  Susuhunan  was  very  dissatisfied 
with  the  Chinese  commanders,  and  discord  was  the  result. 
The  Dutch  profited  by  this,  and  endeavoured  to  sow  the 
seeds  for  further  disagreement  between  the  two  races.  The 
Susuhunan  at  the  same  time  began  to  realise  the  mistake 
he  had  made,  and  humbly  submitted  to  the  East  India 
Company  promising  amendment,  and  his  submission  was 
accepted. 

Chinese  proclaim  their  own  Susuhunan  at  Kerta  Sura. — It 
was  now  the  turn  of  the  Chinese  to  be  dissatisfied,  and 
marching  to  Kerta  Sura,  they  deposed  Paku  Buvana  and 
proclaimed  their  own  Susuhunan,  a  grandson  of  the  late 
Susuhunan  Mangkurat  Mas,  who  was  only  12  years  of  age. 
The  new  Susuhunan'' s  name  was  Mas  Garendi,  and  he  is 
generally  known  as  the  Sunan  Kuning, 

The  Chinese  soon  laid  the  kraton  in  ashes,  Paku  Buvana 
barety  escaping  with  his  first  wife,  who  was  set  on  a  horse. 
All  the  princes  and  attendants  captured  were  instantly  put 
to  death  in  cold  blood,  whilst  the  royal  princesses  and  wives 
of  the  Susuhunan  were  violated  in  a  shocking  and  brutal 
manner.  The  Chinese  in  their  coarse  wantonness  even  made 
the  unfortunate  princesses  dance  before  them. 

The  dethroned  prince  of  course  turned  to  the  Dutch  for 
assistance,  promising  them  much  more  than  he  could  ever 
give  if  they  would  restore  him  to  the  throne. 

Towards  the  end  of  1742  the  Dutch,  with  the  help  of 

their  ally  Chakra  Ningrat  of  Sampang  (Madura),  retook  the 

burnt  kraton  from  the  Chinese.     Paku  Buvana  was  replaced 

on  his  throne  and  the  Sunan  Kuni7ig  relegated  to  Ceylon.^ 

The  following  year  Paku  Buvana  signed  a  new  treaty  by 

^  A  full  account  of  the  Chinese  rebellion  is  given  in  Chapter  VI. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     117 

which  he  ceded  more  provinces  to  the  Dutch  (his  protectors) 
and  undertook  to  pay  a  tremendous  war  indemnity. 

The  sum  was  of  course  never  paid — it  was  never  expected 
it  would  be  ;  the  claim,  however,  to  it  acted  as  a  means  for 
keeping  the  Susuhunan  in  check. 

Removal  of  Seat  of  Government  to  Sura  Kerta. — The  burnt 
kraton  was  not  rebuilt,  but  in  conformity  with  ancient 
custom  the  Sunan  removed  the  seat  of  government  from 
Kerta  Sura  to  the  village  of  Sala  (Solo),  about  seven  miles 
further  east,  where  a  palace  was  built.  The  new  capital  was 
called  Sura  Kerta  (the  transposition  of  the  words  Kerta 
Sura)  adi  ning  Bat,  which  means  "  the  most  excellent  town 
of  heroes  in  the  world." 

Sm'a  Kerta  is  the  present  residence  of  the  susuhunans  or 
emperors  of  Matarem. 

It  was  here  that  the  governor-general  Van  ImhoiT  made 
his  celebrated  visit  to  the  Susuhunan  as  soon  as  the  new 
kraton  was  ready.  Although  the  Chinese  were  now 
thoroughly  pacified,  there  was  not  yet  perfect  peace  in  the 
country.  Five  of  the  Susuhunan' s  brothers  roamed  about 
everywhere  sowing  the  seeds  of  mutiny  and  disaffection. 

A  son  of  one  of  these  princes  who  had  been  called  back 
from  Ceylon,  called  Radam  Mas  Sayid  when  a  young  man, 
but  afterwards  honoured  with  the  title  of  Pangera,n  Mangku 
Nagara,  was  associated  with  them.  Another  brother, 
Pangeran  Ma7igku  Bumi,  who  had  been  chief  of  the  provinces 
of  Sukawati,  also  joined  the  rebels. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  the  third  Javan  war  of  succes- 
sion, which  brought  misery  and  famine  all  over  the  land. 

In  1749  Paku  Buvana  was  very  ill,  and  the  reduced  state 
of  his  authority  and  the  distracted  condition  of  affairs 
afforded  an  opportunity,  too  favourable  to  be  overlooked 
by  the  Dutch,  of  at  once  attaining  the  great  object  of  all 
their  political  interference — the  sovereignty  of  the  country. 
A  weak  prince  on  his  death-bed  at  war  with  his  brothers 


118  JAVA 

and  at  variance  with  his  son  the  crown  prince,  whom  he 
suspected  of  too  great  intimacy  with  one  of  his  concubines, 
was  easily  brought  to  any  terms,  in  the  hope  of  continuing 
even  the  nominal  succession  in  his  family. 

The  Sovereignty  of  Java  transferred  to  the  Dutch  East  India 
Company. — He  was  compelled  by  a  formal  official  deed  **  to 
abdicate  for  himself  and  his  heirs  the  sovereignty  of  the 
country,  conferring  the  same  on  the  Dutch  East  India 
Company,  and  leaving  it  to  them  to  dispose  of  it  in  future 
to  any  person  they  might  think  competent  to  govern  it  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Company  and  of  Java."  After  recom- 
mending his  children,  and  especially  the  heir  apparent,  to 
the  protection  of  the  Dutch  representative  Van  Hohendorff, 
the  unfortunate  monarch  expired. 

This  important  if  not  singular  deed  was  dated  the  11th 
December,  1749. 

From  this  deed  is  derived  the  right  by  w^hich  the  Dutch 
Government  grant  in  fee  to  the  native  princes  the  adminis- 
tration, or  part  administration,  of  those  districts  while  these 
continue  to  be  their  possession. 

Paku  Buvana  III. — The  crown  prince  was  raised  to  the 
throne  as  Paku  Buvana  III.  by  the  East  India  Company, 
although  he  was  only  nine  years  of  age.  Mangku  Bumi  at 
the  same  time  had  himself  formally  proclaimed  as  the  new 
sovereign  and  assumed  the  title  of  Sultan  of  Yogyakerta,  or 
Susuhuna7i  Haniangku  Paku  Buvana  Senapati  Matarem,  on 
the  15th  December,  1745.  To  strengthen  his  cause  he  gave 
his  eldest  daughter  Ratu  Bendara  in  marriage  to  his  cousin 
Mangku  N  agar  a. 

A  new  war  now  raged,  and  the  Dutch,  refusing  to  recognise 
the  claims  of  Mangku  Bumi,  were  attacked  by  him  first  at 
Janar,  at  Kampung  in  Baglen,  and  then  at  Tidar,  a  hill  in 
Kedu.  The  Dutch  were  both  times  completely  routed. 
Those  that  escaped  the  sword  in  the  second  fight  were 
drowned  in  an  adjoining  marsh,  murdered  by  the  countryfolk. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     119 

The  forces  of  Mangku  Bumi  were  sometimes  reduced  to  a 
few  hundred  and  at  other  times  swelled  to  several  thousands, 
the  chiefs  and  people  deserting  him  in  his  distress  and 
flocking  to  him  in  his  prosperity.  After  three  victories 
obtained  over  the  Dutch  he  fell  upon  them  at  Pakalongan 
and  plundered  the  place.  Mangku  Bumi  now  carried  all 
before  him,  and  was  once  at  the  gates  of  Solo,  which  capital 
the  Javans  represent  to  have  been  saved  from  plunder  by 
the  superstitious  veneration  for  the  cannon  called  7iiai 
stomi,  which  the  rebels  no  sooner  descried  on  the  alun  alun 
than  they  sounded  a  retreat. 

An  estrangement  now  arose  between  Mangku  Bumi  and 
his  son-in-law  Mangku  Nagara,  to  settle  which  the  latter 
potentate  called  the  Company  in.  Van  Hohendorff,  the 
Governor  of  Samarang,  was  willing  enough  to  support  the 
claims  of  Mangku  Nagara  for  a  large  slice  of  the  kingdom, 
provided  he  assisted  the  Dutch  in  subduing  his  father-in-law 
Mangku  Bumi,  but  this  did  not  content  the  ambitious 
young  man. 

In  1754  Governor  Hartingh  succeeded  Van  Hohendorff, 
and  after  studying  the  question  at  issue,  which  was  gradually 
destroying  the  principal  provinces  of  Mid-Java,  proceeded 
to  Sura  Kerta  in  1755  with  a  view  to  persuading  the  Susu- 
hunan,  who  was  entirely  apathetic  to  what  was  going  on, 
to  consent  to  the  division  of  the  empire  of  Matarem  between 
himself  and  his  uncle  Mangku  Bumi,  with  whom  in  the 
meantime  on  the  13th  of  February  a  treaty  of  peace  had 
been  concluded  by  the  Dutch.  At  an  interview  between 
uncle  and  nephew  at  Jati  Sari,  six  miles  east  of  Sura  Kerta, 
peace  was  made. 

The  First  Sultan  of  Yogyakerta  or  Djocjo  Carta. — The 
treaty  with  the  East  India  Company  above  mentioned 
recognised  Mangku  Bumi  as  the  first  Sultan  of  Yogyakarta, 
under  the  title  already  stated. 

The  empire,  or  what  remained  of  it,  was  divided  into  two 


120  JAVA 

states,  the  potentates  each  receiving  one  portion  under  the 
suzerainty  of  the  East  India  Company. 

Ma7ig'kii,  Nagara  I. — Majigku  Nagara  also  submitted  on 
the  17th  March  and  was  given  the  rank  and  title  of  Pangeran 
Adipati,  with  an  assignment  of  Paku  Buvana's  possessions 
to  the  extent  of  four  thousand  chacJias  in  the  districts  of 
Kadivang  Malesa  and  the  southern  mountains. 

The  Sultan  Mangku  Bumi  proved  himself  to  be  one  of 
the  best  princes  that  ever  reigned  in  Java.  His  capital 
he  estabhshed  within  a  few  miles  of  the  site  of  the  ancient 
capital  of  Matdrem  or  Mendang  Kamulan  and  built  a 
splendid  kraton,  which  is  the  present  residence  of  his 
successors. 

Paku  Buvana  IV.  of  Sura  Kerta. — Paku  Buvana  III.  died 
at  Sura  Kerta  in  December,  1788,  and  was  succeeded  by  one 
of  his  sons,  Paku  Buvana  IV.,  called  the  Susuhunan  Bagus.^ 

Hamangku  Buvana  II.  of  Yogya  Kerta. — In  1792  the  first 
Sultan  of  Yogyacarta  died  at  the  age  of  82,  and  was  followed 
by  his  son  Hamangku  Buvana  II.,  called  the  Sultan  Sepuh. 

In  1808  General  Daendels  became  governor-general,  and 
being  of  opinion  that  the  ceremonies  which  his  representa- 
tives had  to  observe  at  the  courts  of  the  native  princes  were 
rather  humiliating,  he  abolished  them,  causing  no  small 
discontent  thereby.  The  sultan  demurring  at  the  new 
conditions.  General  Daendels  marched  to  Yogya  Kerta  to 
bring  him  to  reason,  and  after  a  stormy  interview  in  the 
Water  Castle,  deposed  him  in  the  kraton  on  the  20th  December, 
1810,  and  appointed  the  crown  prince  to  reign  in  his  stead. 
Daendels  at  the  same  time  sent  the  two  p)angerans,  Nata 
Kusumu^  and  Nata  Di  Ning  Bat,  as  prisoners  to  Cheribon 
with  orders  to  the  Dutch  resident  to  make  away  with  them 
in  prison.^ 

^  Bagus  is  the  Javan  for  good. 

^  Later  on  one  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles's  staunch,  allies. 
'  Daendels  was  recalled  before  their  execution,  and  Raffles  cancelled 
the  order  on  his  arrival. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     121 

The  English  arrived  in  Java  with  a  large  force  in  1811, 
and  the  old  Sultan  of  Yogya  Kerta,  who  by  a  singular  over- 
sight on  the  part  of  Daendels  had  been  allowed  to  remain  at 
the  kraton,  although  not  in  power,  took  the  opportunity  of 
the  discord  among  the  Dutch,  French,  and  EngHsh  troops 
to  reassert  his  paternal  authority,  always  held  very  high 
among  the  Javans,  and  assumed  charge  of  the  government 
as  Sultan  of  Yogya  Kerta,  notifying  the  new  British  resident, 
Captain  Eobinson,  who  had  just  arrived  there,  accordingly. 
The  sultan's  first  act  was  to  send  for  the  prime  minister,  and 
as  a  reward  for  his  friendship  with  the  Europeans  he 
ordered  him  to  be  strangled  on  the  spot.^ 

The  old  sultan  becoming  tyrannical  and  overbearing,  Sir 
Stamford  Raffles,  as  is  related  in  another  chapter,  proceeded 
to  Yogya  Kerta,  with  the  British  troops  under  General 
Gillespie,  and  seizing  the  kraton,  deposed  him  and  banished 
him  to  Penang. 

Hamangku  Buvana  III.  of  Yogya  Kerta.- — The  crown 
prince  thereupon  reassumed,  as  Hamangku  Buvana  III., 
the  throne  taken  away  from  him  by  his  father.  In  this 
affair  the  British  were  assisted  by  Mangku  Nagara  II. 

Paku  Alam  I. — Raffles  now  created  another  small  king- 
dom to  counterbalance  the  overpowering  influence  of  the 
sultan  by  giving  a  younger  brother  a  small  portion  of  the 
sultanate  with  the  title  of  Pangeran  Adipati  Paku  Alam,  one 
of  the  conditions  being  that,  like  his  equal  in  rank  at  Sala 
{Solo),  Mangku  Nagara,  he  should  always  keep  a  legion  of 
his  own  for  service  under  the  British  Government. 

Finally  the  Captain  Chinaman  at  Yogya  Kerta  after  his 
conversion  to  Islam  was  rewarded  by  the  sultan  for  his 
services  by  his  appointment  as  regent  in  Kedu,  with  the 

1  This  happened  on  an  Ari  Pahinj,  one  of  the  five  days  of  the  Javan 
pasar  week,  which  day  ever  since  has  been  held  an  evil  day  for  all  the 
members  of  the  princely  family.  On  an  Ari  Falling  no  journey  may  be 
undertaken,  no  work  may  bo  started,  and  no  fresh  medicine  taken. 


122  JAVA 

titles  and  names  of  Badem  Tumenggung  Secha  Di  Ning  Rat, 
and  received  one  of  the  princesses  in  marriage.^ 

Hamangkii  Buvana  IV.  of  Yogyakerta.  —  Hamangku 
Buvana  III.  died  in  1814,  and  his  eldest  son,  Pangeran  Dipa 
Negara,  whose  mother  was  only  a  wdfe  of  lower  rank,  was 
excluded  from  the  throne,  which  was  ascended  by  his 
younger  brother  Badem  Mas  Jarot  as  Hamangku  Buvana  IV, 

The  new  sultan,  who  was  only  13  years  of  age,  was  placed 
under  the  joint  guardianship  of  his  mother,  two  princes,  and 
the  prime  minister.  Though  the  people  w^ere  content. 
Baffles  w^as  not,  and  he  dissolved  the  body  of  guardians  and 
made  the  prince's  granduncle,  Paku  Alam,  guardian  in 
their  stead  and  regent  of  the  Empire. 

Paku  Buvana  V. — In  1816  Java  reverted  once  more  to 
the  Dutch,  and  in  1820  Paku  Buvana  IV.  died  at  Sura 
Kerta,  his  successor  being  his  son  Paku  Buvana  V.  The 
reign  of  this  monarch  was  of  short  duration. 

Hamangku  Buvana  V.  of  Yogyakerta. — The  Sultan  Jarot 
of  Yogya  Kerta  died  in  1822,  leaving  two  sons  by  his  Batu 
Ageng.  The  elder  of  them,  Baden  Mas  Menol,  not  yet  three 
years  old,  was  his  successor  as  Hamangku  Buvana  V. 

The  Javanese  have  a  story  that  his  father,  the  fourth 
sultan,  was  poisoned  by  his  uncle  Pangeran  Mangku  Bumi, 
who,  they  say,  expected  to  ascend  the  throne,  or  at  least  ta 
be  made  regent  and  guardian  of  his  two  young  grandnephews. 
The  truth  of  this,  however,  was  never  proved,  and  the  only 
ground  that  the  Javans  bring  forward  in  its  support  is  a 
rumour  that  the  sultan  suddenly  fell  ill  and  died  after 
partaking  of  a  dish  sent  him  by  Mangku  Bumi. 

Paku  Buvana  VI.  of  Sura  Kerta. — Paku  Buvana  V.  died 
in  1823  in  the  third  year  of  his  reign,  without  leaving  a  son 
born  of  a  Ratu,  for  which  reason  his  son  Baden  Mas  Saperdan 
was  raised  to  the  throne  as  Paku  Buvana  VI. 

'  The  Chinese  have  nowadays  several  villages  in  the  province  of  Kedu, 
in  which  there  is  not  a  single  Javan. 


THK  pan(;kkan  pokkkonk(;uko.  with   his  wifk  and  daughter. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     123 

At  this  time  there  was  a  party  at  the  court  of  Yugya 
Kerta  who  were  very  disaffected  towards  the  Pangeran 
Mangku  Bumi  because  he  had  been  bred  and  brought  up  by 
Paku  Alam  in  friendship  towards  the  Dutch  ;  at  the  same 
time  they  disapproved  of  the  exaggerated  luxury  reigning 
at  the  court,  and  complained  of  the  impoverishment  of  the 
people.  At  the  head  of  this  party  was  Menol's  (the  new 
sultan)  micle,  the  Pangeran  Di'pa  Negara.  It  was  this 
prince  conjointly  with  the  Ratus  Ageng  and  Kenchana 
(mother  and  grandmother  to  the  young  sultan)  and  Pan- 
geran Mangku  Bumi  (his  granduncle)  who  had  been  appointed 
the  guardians  of  the  sultan,  the  government  being  in  charge 
of  the  prime  minister  and  the  great  seal  given  to  the  resident 
Jonkheer  Anthon}^  Hendrik  Smissaert. 

This  was  the  unfortunate  moment  when  the  Dutch 
Government  endeavoured  to  introduce  its  new  regulations 
with  regard  to  the  tenure  of  land  by  Em'opeans  in  the  native 
provinces,  and  the  fire  that  was  smouldering  beneath  the 
combustible  matter  now  received  a  draught  of  air,  as  it 
were,  from  the  Government,  the  result  of  which  was  war. 
This  war,  with  Dipa  Negara  as  the  principal  leader,  raged 
calamitously  in  Central  Java  for  five  years,  no  peace  being 
made  until  in  1830  Dipa  Negara  was  led  to  attend  a  con- 
ference with  the  Eesident  of  Magelang  and  taken  prisoner  ; 
he  was  banished  to  Celebes,  where  the  brave  man  died  in 
1855. 

During  1826  the  second  sultan,  who  lived  in  exile  in  Amhon, 
was  called  back  and  replaced  on  the  throne,  which  he  had 
to  share  with  his  young  grandson.  The  Dutch  hoped 
hereby  to  end  the  war,  a  hope  that  was  not  reahsed.  From 
this  time  the  tw^o  sultans  were  styled  Sultan  Sepuh  and 
(Menol)  Sultan  Anom — that  is,  the  old  and  the  young  sultan. 

Hamangku  Buvana  VI.  of  Yogyakerta. — In  1828  the  old 
sultan  died,  but  Hamangku  Buvana  V.  {Sultan  Anom)  hved 
till    1855.     Sultan    Anom's    younger    brother,    Pangeran 


124  JAVA 

Adipati  Manghu  Bumi,  was  now  made  sultan  as  Haviangku 
Buvana  VI.,  the  former  having  left  no  sons. 

During  the  time  of  the  war  the  SusuJiunan  at  Sura  Kerta, 
through  the  great  influence  of  the  resident,  Henry  Mac- 
Gillavry  ^  (and  some  say  of  the  brothers  Dezentje  ^),  remained 
faithful  to  the  Dutch,  although  the  temptation  to  join  the 
rebels  was  great.  After  the  war  the  Government,  to  cover 
some  of  their  expenses,  took  possession  of  a  considerable 
part  of  the  native  lands.  At  the  same  time  a  proportional 
part  of  the  Susuhunan's  territory  was  seized. 

The  measure  was  considered  politically  a  wise  one,  but 
the  Susnliunan,  considering  his  vast  services  to  the  Dutch, 
felt  he  had  been  distinctly  TVTonged,  and,  looking  upon  it  as 
a  poor  return  for  his  remaining  faithful  during  a  trying  time, 
left  Sura  Kerta  for  the  south  coast,  where  he  resolved  to 
live  the  rest  of  his  life  in  pious  devotions.  He  was,  however, 
not  allowed  to  remain  long  in  peace,  but  was  taken  prisoner 
and  banished  to  Arribon,  where  he  died  in  1849. 

Faku  Buvana  VII.  of  Sura  Kerta. — In  his  stead  a  brother 
of  the  fifth  SusuJiunan  (who  was  a  brother  to  the  fourth 
and  born  of  a  ratu)  and  Fangeran  Purnhaya  was  crowned  as 
Palcu  Buvana  VII. 

Baku  Buvana  VIII.  of  Sura  Kerta. — This  Susuhunan  had 
a  short  reign,  living  only  till  1858,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  half-brother,  Pangeran  Ngabehi,  born  of  a 
wife  of  the  second  rank. 

This  prince  ascended  the  throne  at  Sura  Kerta  as  Baku 
Buvana  VIII.,  but  in  1861,  three  years  after  his  elevation, 
he  died  at  the  age  of  72  years. 

Baku  Buvana  IX.  of  Sura  Kerta. — His  successor  was  the 
eldest  son  born  of  a  ratu  of  the  banished  sixth  Susuhunan  of 
the  same  name,  who  is  known  as  Baku  Buvana  IX. 

Baku  Buvana  X.  of  Sura  Kerta. — The  latter  lived  until 

'  Tlie  son  of  an  Englishman. 

^  August  Jan  Casper  and  Johannes  Augustinus  Dezentje. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     125 

1894  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  the  crown  prince 
as  Paku  Buvana  X. 

Hcmiangku  Buvana  VII.  of  Jogya  Kerta. — Sultan  Ha- 
mangku  Buvana  VI.  of  Yogya  Kerta,  one  of  the  best  and 
kindest  of  princes,  an  honest  and  virtuous  man,  died  in 
1877,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  (who  was  installed 
as  crown  prince  in  1872),  the  present  reigning  Sultan 
Hamangku  Buvana  VII. 

In  1883  the  eldest  son  of  Ratti  Mas,  Hamangku  Buvana^ s 
second  wife  (the  first  bore  him  no  son),  was  made  crown 
prince  as  Pangeran  Adipati  Hamangku  Xagara ;  he  died, 
however,  in  1891,  and  his  next  brother,  su:ffering  from 
attacks  of  insanity,  had  to  be  divested  of  his  rank.  The 
third  son  of  the  ratu  therefore  obtained  the  title  which  he 
has  held  since  1895. 

The  Princes  of  Paku  Alam. — The  first  Paku  Alam, 
appointed,  as  ah*eady  related,  in  1812  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles, 
died  during  the  Java  war  in  1829  ;  his  son  and  successor, 
Paku  Alam  II.,  hved  to  the  age  of  75  years.  Paku  Alam  III., 
the  latter's  son,  reigned  from  1858  to  1864,  and  was  succeeded 
by  a  cousin  of  his  as  Paku  Alam  IV.  This  prince,  who  died 
in  1878,  left  no  son  worthy  of  the  throne,  which  was  mounted 
by  his  uncle,  a  son  of  the  second  prince  of  that  name  ;  he 
reigned  as  Paku  Alam  V.  until  1901,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  son,  Pangeran  Nata  Kasuma,  as  Pangeran 
Adipati  Paku  Alam  VI.,  who  died  in  1902.  He  was 
followed  by  his  son  as  Paku  Alam  VII.,  who  still 
reigns.^ 

The  legion  which  was  stipulated  for  b}"  Raffles  v/as 
disbanded  in  1892.  With  this  the  Javan  history  of  the 
country  concludes. 

The  chronological  tables  here  given  show  the  list  of 
sovereigns — Hindu,      Javan,     Brahman,     Buddhist,     and 

1  A  highly  aristocratic  and  well-bred  man,  with  the  courtly  and 
jharming  manners  of  the  true  Javan. 


126  JAVA 

Mahometan — who  have  ruled  over  Java  from  the  earHest 
traditions  until  the  present  day. 

BesumS  of  Ancient  Java. — The  foregoing  account  of 
"  Ancient  Java,"  which  we  have  endeavoured  to  make  as 
clear  and  lucid  as  possible,  is  based  upon  a  mass  of  informa- 
tion which  is  in  parts  more  or  less  unintelligible  owing  to 
the  hideous  confusion  and  frequent  inaccuracies  in  the  dates 
of  the  various  chroniclers,  no  two  of  whom  agree.  The 
story,  however,  as  now  told  and  the  dates  given  may  be 
accepted  as  practically,  if  not  quite,  correct,  and,  it  having 
been  told  as  consecutively  as  was  possible,  an  intelligible 
view  can  be  taken  of  the  whole  of  the  ancient  history  of  Java. 
Among  the  principal  events  which  have  occurred  are  : — 

Firstly,  the  arrival  of  the  Hindu  Aji  Saka,  with  whom  a 
new  period  began.  At  this  time  a  race  of  Kalangs  or 
Basaksa,  or  aborigines,  was  living  in  some  parts  of  the 
island.^  They  had  partially  emerged  from  the  barbarism 
and  savagery  into  which,  through  being  cut  off  from  all 
civilisation  for  centuries,  they  had  fallen.  Their  covering 
of  civilisation  was  beginning  to  make  itself  apparent  through 
an  admixture  of  the  blood  of  another  race  which  had  more 
or  less  recently  arrived,  and,  as  stated,  was  probably  called 
Javan  or  Javanese. 

Secondly,  it  is  clear  that  on  the  arrival  of  the  expedition 
from  India  the  inhabitants  were  so  far  advanced  as  to  be 
in  a  state  to  receive  and  make  use  of  the  culture  of  their 
Hindu  masters,  and  to  begin  the  construction  of  the  mighty 
monuments  in  Middle  Java  which  constitute  one  of  the 
wonders  of  the  world. 

This  first  Hindu  empire  was  established  at  Matdrem  and 
was  called  Mendang  Kamulan.  When  this  was  extinguished 
the  kingdoms  of  Pajajaran  in  the  west  and  Majapahit  in 
the  east  rose  into  importance. 

1  From  remains  found  at  Soekaboerin  and  near  Garvet  it  is  seen  that  an 
ancient  stone  period  was  once  in  existence  in  Java  (Preanger  district). 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     127 

After  the  destruction  of  the  famous  city  of  Majapahit  by 
the  Mahometans,  a  court  was  formed  at  Demdk  and  the 
Payang,  from  which  eventually  arose  the  second  empire  of 
Matdrem,  firstly  at  Kerta  Sura  and  later  at  Sura  Kerta. 
Afterwards  the  decay  which  had  long  before  set  in  owing  to 
the  disintegrating  influences  of  the  European  invasion 
became  more  pronounced,  and  Matdrem  was  split  into  two 
kingdoms,  one  with  its  seat  of  government  at  Sura  Kerta 
and  the  other  at  Yogya  Kerta. 

The  power,  however,  of  the  monarchs  was  still  further 
reduced  by  the  establishment  of  small  sultanates  in  each 
kingdom  under  the  aristocratic  Javan  families  Maiigka 
N  agar  a  and  Paku  Alam. 

The  result  is  that  to-day  the  Susuhunan  of  Sura  Kerta 
and  the  Sultan  of  Yogya  Kerta,  the  last  representatives  of 
a  bygone  monarchy,  are  merely  political  puppets  in  the 
hands  of  their  masters  the  Dutch,  for  although  to  the 
stranger  the  pomp,  show,  and  glitter  with  which  they  are 
surrounded  would  indicate  power  and  dominion,  it  is  know^n 
very  well  by  the  Dutch  Government,  if  not  by  themselves, 
that  beyond  ruhng  in  domestic  and  social  affairs  they  are 
to  all  intents  and  purposes  powerless  in  the  land  of  their 
ancestors. 


128  JAVA 

(A)  List  showing  the  Line  of  Mahometan  Sovereigns  who  have 

ruled  in  Java  since  a.d.  1477  down  to  the  Present  Day, 

also 

(B)  Chronological  List  of  some  of  the  Principal  Events  which 

have  happened  from  a.d.  75  to  a.d.  1570. 

(A) 

List  of  Mahometan  Sovereigns. 
(From  old  Records.) 

^^^  At  Demak. 

A.D. 

1477.     Raden  Patah. 

1519.     Pangerang  Sabrang  Lor. 

1533.     Sultan  Bintara. 

At  Pajang. 
1577,     Sultan  Pajang. 

1606.     Adipati   Demak.     (Subject   to   the   Sultan   of   Matarem 
"  Jolang.") 

At  Matarem. 

1568.     Adipati  Pamanahan.     (Subject  to  the  Sultan  of  Payang.) 
1575,     Panembahan   Senapati.     (Threw   off   the   supremacy   of 

Pajang  in  1582.) 
1601.     Sultan  Jolang. 
1613.     Raden  Rangsang,  or  Sultan  Ageng. 
1646.     Susuhunan  Ha  Mengku  Rat  I. 

At  Kerta  Sura. 

1677.  Susuhunan  Ha  Mengku  Rat  II. 

1685.  Susuhunan  Ha  Mengku  Rat  Mas  III, 

1703,  Pangeran  Puger,  or  Susuhunan  Paku  Buvana  I. 

1719,  Susuhunan  Prabu  Ha  Mengku  Rat. 

1727.  Susuhunan  Paku  Buvana  II. 

At  Sura  Kerta. 

1743.     Susuhunan  Paku  Buvana  II. 

1749,     Susuhunan  Paku  Buvana  III, 

1755,     The  kingdom  of  Matarem  was  now  divided  into  two,  with 

two  capitals  and    sovereigns  entirely  independent  of 

each  other. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     129 


At  Sura  Kerta. 

At  Yogya  Kerta. 

Reign 

Reign 

began 

began 

A.D. 

A.D. 

1755,  fSusuhunan  Paku 
\     Buvana 

III. 

1755. 

j  Sultan  Ha  Meng-  ]  I 
i      ku  Buvana  ^        j 

1788. 

IV. 

1792. 

II 

1820. 

V. 

1812. 

III 

1823. 

VI. 

1814. 

IV 

1849. 

VII. 

1822. 

V 

1858. 

VIII. 

1855. 

VI 

1861. 

IX. 

1877. 

,,       VII 

1894. 

X. 

(B) 
Chronological  Table   of  Principal  Events  in   Java. 
(From  various  Javan  Sources.) 

A.D. 

75 — 77.     Aji  Saka,   a  Hindu,   arrives  in  Java,   probably  near 

Rembang  or  Tuban. 
413.     Fa  Hien,  a  CJiinese  priest,  wrecked  near  Rembang. 
1160.     Singliapura   founded    by    Malays    from    Palembang.     A 

King  of  Java  invades  the  new  colony  repeatedly. 
1195.     The  King  of  Daha,  in  East  Java,  expands  his  kingdom. 
1291.     Marco  Polo,  the  Itahan,  visits  Sumatra. 
1300.     Ibu  Batuta,  an  Arab,  settles  in  East  Java. 
1335.     The  Emperor  of  Java  invades  Singhapura  and  drives  the 

Malays  away  to  Malacca. 
1359.     Sultan  Mohammed  Shah  becomes  the  second  King  of 

Malacca. 
1375.     The  King  of  Malacca  marries  a  daughter  of  the  Emperor 

of  Java,  and  is  presented  with  the  country  of  Indragiri, 

in  Sumatra. 
1375.     Mulana  Mahk   Ibrahim,    a   celebrated   Arabian   scholar, 

arrives  in  Java  to  convert  the  people. 
1412.     Mulana  Ibrahim  dies  at  Gresik. 
1477.     The  first  Mahometan  sovereign  of  Java,  Raden  Patah  (a 

son  of  the  Emperor  of  Majapahit  in  actuahty,  although 

his  reputed  father   was   Aria  Damar,   the   Prince   of 

Palembang),  establishes  his  court  at  Demdk. 


1  Also  spelt  Pakoe  Boewono  by  the  Dutch. 
J.— VOL.    I. 


K 


130 


JAVA 


A.D. 

1477. 


1477. 
1526. 

1570. 


The  Hindu  city  of  Majapahit  destroyed  by  the  Islamised 
Javanese,  under  the  leadership  of  the  Arabs  and  R4den 
Patah. 

The  Mahometan  rehgion  estabhshed  in  East  Java. 

The  city  of  Bantam  succumbs  to  the  intrigues  of  the 
Susuhunan  of  Cheribon,  an  Arab  by  birth. 

Final  blow  to  Buddhism.  Tiie  Hindu -Javan  Empire  of 
Pajajaran,  which  had  its  capital  at  Pakuan  (Batoe- 
toelis),  near  Buitenzorg,  destroyed  by  the  Susuhunan  of 
Cheribon. 

(C) 

Chronological  Table  SHOvirmG  the  Evolution  of  the 
Different  Ancient  Hindu,  Javan  and  Mahometan 
Empires  or  Kingdoms  in  the  Island  of  Java  down  to 
THE  Present  Day. 


The  Empire  of  M:^ndang  Kamulan  (Matarem). 

(D j  ockj  akarta  Residency . ) 

(A.D.   75  to  A.D.    1002.) 


A  Hindu  settlement  (Sourabaya  Residency) 
(A.D.  200,  ijerhaps  earlier  i). 


The  Kingdom  of 
Jang'gala. 
Sourabaya 
Residency 
(A.D.  950  to  1) 
(A.D.  875?) 


The  Kingdom  of 

Kediri  or  Dalia. 

Kedin 

Eesidencv 

(A.D.  950  to 

A.D.  1294) 

(and  A.D.  875?). 


The  Kingdom     The  Kingdom 

of  N'garawan.      of  Singasari. 

Kedin  Pasoeroean 

Residency  Residency 

(A.D.  950  to—)  (A.D.  950  to—) 


The  Great  Kingdom  of  Jang'gala 

(the  capital  was  later  called  Tumapel) 

(A.D.  1002  to  A.D.  1275). 


The^Empire  of  Pajajaran 
(capital  near  Buitenzorg) 
(A.D.  1030  to  A.D.  1570). 


The  Empire  of  Majapahit 
(caTjital  near  Modjo  Kerta) 
(A.D.  1275  to  A.D.  1477) 
(A.D.  675?). 


The  Kingdom  of  Demak 
(A.D.  1477  to  A.D.  1577). 

The  Kingdom  of  Pajang.        The  EmT)ire  of  Matarem. 
Djockjakarta  Residency 
(A.D.  1577  to  A.D.  1606^ 

'  There  is  little  doubt  that  there  was  a  large  Hindu  community  in  the 
Sourabaya  province  as  early  as  a.d.  300,  perhaps  earlier. 


ARABIAN  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     131 

The  Empire  of  Mat  are  m.^ 
(a.d  ,   1568  ^  (still  in  existence)  ). 

Titles. 

The  Panembaliau  Senapati.    \ 

The  Sultau.  >    At  Matarem  (Djockjakarta  Residency). 


The  Susuhunau. 

The  Susiihunan.  At  Kertasura  (a.d.  1677). 

The  Susiihunan.  At  Sura  Kerta  (a.d.  1743). 

I 

\ 

I  i 

The  Royal  House  of  the  Susuhunau     The  Royal  House  of  the  Sultan  at 
(commonly  called  the  Emperor  of  Yugyakarta 

Java)  at  Sura  Kerta  (a.d.  1755  (still  m  existence) ). 

(a.d.  1755  (still  in  existence) ).  | 

I  I 

The  princely  House  of  Ihe  princely  House  of 

Mangku  Nagara  Paku  Alam 

(A.D.  1755  (still  in  existence) ).  (a.d.  1812  (stiU  in  existence) ). 

'  This  empire  possibly  in  its  earlier  days  went  under  the  name  of 
Wii'ata,  which  name  disappeared  for  certain  in  775,  possibly  about  568, 
about  when  the  empire  was  rechristened  Mendang  Kamdlan  (see  Chapter  I., 
Part  II.). 

-  From  1568  to  1582  under  the  supremacy  of  the  Sultan  of  Payang, 
after  which  Payang  became  subject  to  Matarem. 

Note. — All  ancient  Hindu  and  Javan  chroniclers  agree  on  one  point, 
although  their  dates  are  at  variance,  namely,  that  a  time  existed  when 
the  rajahs  of  the  following  ancient  Hindu  empires  or  kingdoms  ruled 
practically  the  whole  island  : — Mendang  Kamiilan,  Jang'gala  (!),  Pajajarau, 
and  Majapahit. 


k2 


CHAPTEE   III 
Chinese  Intekcoukse  with  Java 

Early  Chinese  Knowledge  of  Java. — It  is  frequently  stated 
that  the  Chinese  had  acquired  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
East  Indian  Archipelago  some  time  before  the  Christian  era, 
but  no  proof  of  this,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  has  ever  been 
given.  At  the  same  time  there  are  good  reasons  in  support 
of  this  statement.  The  Chinese  have  ever  been  an  astonish- 
ingly secretive  race,  guarding  their  knowledge  with  jealous 
care,  a  quality  apparently  intuitively  inborn  in  them.  A 
people  who  understood  the  use  of  the  mariner's  compass  as 
early  as  B.C.  2634,  had  a  knowledge  of  printing  and  gun- 
powder, and  who  had  inherited  a  great  store  of  scientific  lore 
about  the  continent  of  Asia  for  thousands  of  years,  and  who 
are  even  supposed  to  have  discovered  America,  must  have 
visited  the  East  Indies  and  Java  before  Hippalus  made  his 
way  across  the  Indian  Ocean.  No  records,  however,  exist 
of  any  such  early  voyages,  although  they  must  have  been 
made. 

During  the  reign  of  the  Han  dynasty  (b.c.  116)  there  is 
mention  made  in  the  Chinese  histories  of  ambassadors  being 
sent  to  some  court  in  the  south,  and  that  since  then  that 
coimtry  had  always  paid  tribute. 

Later  on,  during  the  reign  of  Hsuah  of  the  Han  dynasty 
(B.C.  73),  the  Eomans  and  the  Hindu  rulers  of  India  sent 
regular  tribute  to  China. 

The  Chinese  ambassadors  presumably  travelled  to  their 
destination  overland  ;  if,  as  is  possible,  they  went  by  sea, 
it  seems  a  natural  assumption  that  they  must  at  some  time 
or  another  have  touched  the  coast  of  Sumatra,  but  no 
mention  is  made  to  this  effect. 


K.. 


.■?wr  ■   -   -  .      "'.iS*_  ■ 


WAVANi,     I'.IINA.     Ill;     I   1II\I-:SE    PLAV. 


CHINESE  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     183 

Again,  about  a.d.  222  two  commissioners  were  despatched 
from  China  on  an  expedition  to  foreign  lands  in  the  south  ; 
but  here  also  the  particulars  are  so  vague  and  scanty  that 
no  authoritative  assertion  can  be  made  that  Java  or  Sumatra 
was  among  the  numerous  lands  visited. 

For  the  first  authentic  statement  of  a  Chinaman  visiting 
Java  we  have  to  wait  until  a.d.  413.  In  this  case  there  can 
be  no  doubt  about  the  matter,  as  Chinese  history  is  clear  and 
distinct  upon  this  point. 

The  name  of  this  distinguished  visitor  is  Fa  Hien,  a 
Buddhist  priest,  who,  deploring  the  depths  of  degradation 
into  which  the  priests  of  his  religion  in  China  had  fallen, 
decided  that  a  voyage  to  India  in  quest  of  the  original 
copies  of  the  Buddhistic  writings  would  prove  more  to  his 
colleagues  than  any  number  of  lectures  from  him  as  to  their 
immoral  life  and  the  lax  way  in  which  they  were  carrying 
out  the  tenets  and  maxims  of  a  beautiful  rehgion. 

He  wished,  moreover,  to  prove  that  their  faults  and  errors 
were  more  the  result  of  absolute  ignorance  than  an  inten- 
tional neglect  or  indifference  on  their  part.  Fa  Hien  left 
for  India  in  400,  and  spent  four  years  wandering  over  the 
land  in  search  of  the  documents.  He  finally  left  India  for 
Ceylon,  and  there  took  ship  for  China.  An  account  of  his 
journey  from  Ceylon  has  been  left  to  us.    It  is  as  follows : — 

Account  of  Fa  Hien's  Journey. — "  Fa  Hien  left  Ceylon  on  board 
a  merchant  vessel,  which  carried  about  two  hundred  men.  Astern 
of  the  great  ship  a  smaller  one  was  fastened  as  a  provision  in  case 
of  the  large  vessel  being  injured  or  wrecked  on  the  voyage. 
Having  got  a  fair  wind,  they  sailed  eastward  for  two  days,  when 
they  encomitered  a  storm  and  the  ship  sprang  leak.  The 
merchants  then  wanted  to  rush  into  the  smaller  vessel,  but  the 
crew  of  that  ship,  fearing  that  it  would  become  too  crowded,  cut 
the  towing  cable  and  fell  oJBE.  The  merchants  were  very  much 
afraid,  and  their  lives  stood  in  the  greatest  danger.  Then, 
dreading  lest  the  leak  should  gain  upon  them,  they  forthwith  took 
their  goods  and  merchandise  and  cast  them  overboard.     Fa  Hien 


184  JAVA 

also  flung  overboard  his  water -pitcher  and  his  washmg -basin,  as 
well  as  other  portions  of  his  property.  He  was  only  afraid  lest 
the  merchants  should  throw  into  the  sea  his  sacred  books 
and  images.  And  so  with  the  earnestness  of  heart  he  invoked 
Avalokiteshwara  and  paid  reverence  to  the  Buddhist  saints  of 
China,  speaking  thus  :  '  I  have  wandered  so  far  in  search  of 
the  law,  may  you  by  your  spiritual  power  drive  back  the  water, 
and  cause  us  to  reach  some  resting  place.' 

"  The  gale  lasted  thirteen  days  and  nights,  when  they  arrived 
at  the  shore  of  an  island,  and  the  tide  going  out,  they  found  the 
place  of  the  leak  ;  having  forthwith  stopped  it  up,  they  again 
put  to  sea,  and  continued  their  voyage.  In  this  sea  there  are 
many  pirates  ;   when  one  falls  in  with  them,  he  is  lost. 

"  The  sea  is  boundless  in  extent — it  is  impossible  to  know  east 
or  west,  and  one  can  only  advance  by  observing  the  sun,  moon, 
or  stars  ;  if  it  is  dark,  rainy  weather,  you  have  to  follow  the  wind 
in  perfect  uncertainty.  During  the  darkness  of  night  one  only 
sees  the  great  waves  striking  each  other,  and  shining  hke  fire, 
whilst  shoals  of  sea  monsters  of  every  description  surround  the 
ship.  The  merchants  were  much  perplexed,  not  knowing  what 
course  to  steer.  The  sea  was  so  deep  that  no  sounding  could  be 
taken,  and  also  there  was  no  place  for  anchorage. 

"  At  length,  the  weather  clearing  up,  they  got  their  right 
bearings  and  once  more  shaped  a  correct  course  and  proceeded 
onwards.  But  if  during  the  bad  weather  thej''  had  happened  to 
strike  a  hidden  rock,  then  there  would  have  been  no  way  to  escape 
alive.  Thus  they  voyaged  for  about  ninety  days,  when  they 
arrived  at  a  country  called  Yava-di.^ 

"  In  this  country  heretics  and  Brahmans  flourish,  but  the  law 
of  Buddlia  hardly  deserves  mentioning. ^ 

"  After  having  stopped  here  for  five  ^months,  Fa  Hien  again 
embarked  on  another  m.erchant  vessel,  having  also  a  crew  of  two 
hundred  men  or  so.  They  took  with  them  fifty  days'  provisions 
and  set  sail  on  the  16th  day  of  the  fourth  month.  Whilst  Fa 
Hien  was  on  board  of  this  ship  they  shaped  a  course  X.E.  for  the 
province  of  Canton  in  China.  After  a  month  and  some  days,  at 
the  stroke  of  two  in  the  middle  watch  of  the  night  a  black  squall 
suddenly  came  on,  accompanied  with  pelting  rain. 

1  Abbreviation  most  likely  of  Yava  Dwipa  :   Java  Din  of  Ptolemy. 
'  It  apparently  existed,  however. 
*  December  to  May. 


CHINESE  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAV^A     135 

"  The  merchants  and  passengers  were  all  terrified.  Fa  Hien 
at  this  time  also,  with  great  earnestness  of  mind,  again  entreated 
Avdlokit^shwara  and  all  the  priesthood  of  China,  praying  for  the 
assistance  of  their  divine  power  to  carry  them  through  until 
dayhght.  When  the  day  broke  all  the  Brahmans,  consulting 
together,  said  :  '  It  is  because  we  have  got  this  Buddhist  priest 
on  board  with  us  that  we  have  no  luck,  and  have  incurred  this 
great  mischief  ;  come  let  us  land  this  monk  on  the  first  island  we 
meet  with,  for  it  is  not  proper  that  we  should  all  perish  for  the 
sake  of  one  man.' 

"  But  a  man  who  had  taken  Fa  Hien  under  his  care  then  said  : 
'  If  you  land  this  monk,  j^ou  shall  also  land  me  with  him,  and  if 
not  you  had  better  kill  me,  for  if  you  really  put  this  priest  on 
shore,  then  when  we  arrive  at  China,  I  will  go  straight  to  the  king 
and  tell  him  what  you  have  done.  And  the  king  of  the  country 
is  a  firm  believer  in  the  law  of  Buddlia,  and  greatly  honours  the 
priests  and  monks.'  The  merchantmen  on  this  did  not  dare  to 
land  him.  As  the  weather  continued  very  dark,  the  pilots  looked 
at  each  other  without  knowing  what  to  do.  More  than  seventy 
days  had  now  elapsed,  the  food  and  water  were  nearly  all  gone, 
they  had  to  use  salt  water  for  cooking,  as  they  had  only  two  pmts 
of  fresh  water  per  head  left,  so  that  it  was  nearly  all  finished.  The 
merchants  now  deliberated  and  said  :  '  The  ordinary  time  for 
the  voyage  to  Canton  is  fifty  days,^  but  now  we  have  exceeded 
that  time  by  many  days  already,  surely  we  must  have  gone 
wrong.' 

"  On  this  day  they  put  the  ship  on  a  N.W.  course  to  look  for 
land,  and  after  twelve  days'  continuous  sailing  they  arrived  at 
the  southern  coast  of  Lan  Shan  in  the  prefecture  of  Chang  Kwang.^ 
They  here  obtained  fresh  water  and  vegetables,  and  from  seeing 
a  certain  kind  of  herb,  they  knew  that  they  were  in  China,  but 
not  seeing  men  or  traces  of  them  they  again  scarcely  knew  what 
to  think.  Some  said  that  they  had  not  yet  arrived  at  Canton, 
others  maintained  they  had  passed  it.  In  this  uncertainty, 
therefore,  they  put  off  in  a  little  boat  and  entered  a  creek  looking 
for  some  one  to  ask  what  place  it  was  they  had  arrived  at.  Just 
at  this  moment  two  men  who  had  been  hunting  were  returning 
home.     On  this  the   merchants  requested  Fa  Hien  to   act   as 

'  They  thus  had  heen  often  before. 

2  This  is  a  little  to  the  north  of  Canton. 


136  JAVA 

interpreter,  and  it  was  only  then  they  knew  what  place  they  had 
come  to." 

The  following  passage  from  Fa  Hien's  account  contains 
an  adventure  which  happened  to  him  whilst  visiting  a 
temple  at  Ceylon  : — 

"  Fa  Hien  had  now  been  away  many  years  from  China  ;  the 
people  with  whom  he  conversed  were  all  men  from  foreign 
comitries  ;  even  the  mountains  and  valleys,  the  plants  and  trees, 
which  he  saw  around  him,  were  unlike  those  of  old  times.  More- 
over, his  fellow-travellers  were  separated  from  him  ;  some  had 
remained  behind,  and  some  were  dead  ;  he  had  only  his  own 
shadow  to  look  at,  and  so  his  heart  was  continually  saddened. 
All  at  once,  as  he  was  standing  by  the  side  of  this  jasper  image,  he 
beheld  a  merchant  present  to  it,  as  a  religious  ofiEering,  a  white 
fan  from  China.  Involuntarily  he  gave  way  to  his  sorrowful 
feelings  and  tears  filled  his  eyes." 

From  the  foregoing  extracts  it  may  be  gathered  that  the 
Hindu  colonists  in  Java  kept  up  an  important  intercourse 
with  their  mother-country  and  carried  on  trade  with  China. 
It  is  also  quite  clear  that  the  population  in  Java  at  this 
time  must  have  been  already  very  considerable,  otherwise 
Fa  Hien  would  hardly  have  mentioned  that  the  Brahman 
religion  was  flourishing  there.  It  is  moreover  to  be  noted 
that  he  met  none  of  his  countrymen  in  Java/  for  had  he 
done  so  he  would  certainly  have  said  so,  seeing  he  was 
moved  to  tears  in  the  Ceylon  temple  at  the  sight  of  a  Chinese 
fan.  Fa  Hien  arrived  in  Java  about  December  and  departed 
in  May,  and  there  is  reason  for  believing  that  he  landed 
somewhere  on  the  north-east  coast,  most  likely  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  present  district  of  Kembang. 

In  the  history  of  the  first  Sung  dynasty  it  is  mentioned 
that  in  the  year  435  the  king  of  the  country,  Djavada,^ 

1  He  did  not  travel  in  Java,  and  therefore  did  not  visit  Bantam  or 
Grissee,  which  were  the  most  likely  places  where  Chinese  would  be  found, 
if  there  were  any. 

2  Yavidi,  Yawadi. 


CHINESE  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     137 

whose  name  was  Sri  Padadoalapamo,^  sent  an  envoy  to 
carry  a  letter  and  some  gifts  to  the  Emperor  of  China, 
which  is  the  first  actual  confirmation  of  the  kings  of  Java 
presenting  tribute  to  the  Chinese. 

The  historical  works  of  the  Liang  dynasty  (a.d.  502)  enter 
into  more  details  about  Java  than  any  previous  accounts. 
The  following  is  an  extract  fiom  one  such,  and  refers  to 
old  Bantam  : — 

"  The  country  of  Lang  Oa-su,  or  Langga,^  is  situated  in  the 
Southern  Ocean  ;  its  length  from  east  to  west  is  thirty  days 
and  from  south  to  north  twenty  days  ;  its  distance  from  Canton 
is  24,000  U.^ 

"  The  climate  and  the  products  of  the  soil  are  about  the  same 
as  in  Siam.  Lignum  aloes  in  its  different  qualities  and  camphor 
oil  are  very  abundant  everywhere.  Men  and  women  have  the 
upper  part  of  the  body  naked  ;  their  hair  hangs  loosely  down  and 
around  their  lower  limbs  ;  they  only  use  a  sarong  of  cotton. 
The  king  and  the  nobles,  moreover,  have  a  thin  flowered  cloth 
for  covering  the  upper  part  of  their  body  [slendang]  ;  they  wear 
a  girdle  of  gold  and  golden  rings  in  their  ears. 

"  Young  girls  cover  themselves  with  a  cloth  of  cotton,  and 
wear  an  embroidered  girdle.  In  this  country  they  have  made  the 
city  walls  of  piled -up  bricks  ;  the  wall  has  double  gates  and 
watch-towers.  When  the  king  goes  out  he  rides  on  an  elephant ; 
he  is  surrounded  with  flags  of  feathers,  banners  and  drums, 
and  is  covered  by  a  white  canopy.  His  military  establishment 
is  very  complete.  The  people  say  that  their  country  was  estab- 
lished more  than  four  hundred  years  ago.  In  515  the  prmce  sent 
an  envoy  with  a  letter  and  presents  to  the  Son  of  Heaven." 

During  the  Tang  dynasty  (a.d.  618)  a  little  more  infoima- 
tion  regarding  Java  is  vouchsafed.  Kaling  (Kling)  is  also 
called  Djawa  *  (Japara)  : — ■ 

"  The  people  make  fortifications  of  wood,  and  even  the  largest 

1  The  name  is  no  doubt  hypothetical. 

*  This  was  in  the  district  of  Bantam. 
"  A  li  ie,  roughly  a  mile. 

*  Djawa.  Djapa,  or  Djapo. 


138  JAVA 

houses  are  covered  with  palm  leaves.  They  have  couches  of 
ivory,  and  mats  of  the  outer  skin  of  bamboo. 

"  The  land  produces  tortoise-shell,  gold,  silver,  rhinoceros 
horns,  and  ivory.  The  country  is  very  rich  ;  there  is  a  cavern 
from  which  salt  water  bubbles  up  spontaneously.  They  make 
Avine  of  the  hangmg  flowers  of  the  cocoa  palm  ;  when  they  drink 
of  it,  they  become  rapidly  drunk.  They  have  letters  and  are 
acquainted  with  astronomy. 

"  The  king  lives  in  the  town  of  Djapa,^  but  his  ancestor  Kiyea 
had  lived  more  to  the  east  at  the  town  of  Palukasi  [probably 
Toeban].  On  different  sides  are  twenty-eight  small  countries 
[districts],  all  acknowledging  the  supremacy  of  Djawa.  There 
are  thirty -two  high  ministers  on  the  mountains  of  Lang  piva 
[Dieng],^  where  the  king  frequently  goes  to  look  at  the  sea. 

"  This  country  sent  envoys  to  the  emperor  to  bring  tribute, 
together  with  those  of  Dvahala,  Dvapatan  [Bali].  The  emperor 
favoured  them  with  a  reply  mider  the  great  seal,  and  as  Dvahala 
asked  for  good  horses  these  were  given  to  them." 

At  this  time  the  Chinese  were  already  coming  to  Java  in 
considerable  numbers  for  trading,  and  in  the  east  at  Yorta7i,'^ 
Tuhan,  and  Grissee  several,  and  perhaps  many,  had  settled 
permanently.  Consequently  when  one  of  the  Javan  chroni- 
clers ^  records  the  wreck  of  a  large  junk  near  Semarang  in 
921,  and  states  that  the  Chinese  in  her  formed  an  establish- 
ment on  the  island  of  Java  for  the  first  time,  he  is  making 
a  statement  which  is  not  in  accordance  with  probabihties, 
for  there  is  all  likelihood  that  some  had  been  established  in 
the  island  three  or  lOur  centuries  before  this  date. 

In  Chapter  I.,  Part  II.,  of  this  history,  the  account  is  given 
of  the  great  Chinese  expedition  (a.d.  1292)  sent  to  punish 
the  King  of  TumapeV  by  the  first  Mongol  Emperor  Kublai 
Khan.     The  sons  of  Heaven  on  this  occasion  fared  badly, 

1  Japara.     Japara  was  subject  to   the   King   of  M6ndang   Kamiilan, 
whicli  was  in  fiill  life  and  vigour  at  this  time. 
■^  L-ang,  Di-ang. 
8  Bangil. 

*  Chapter  I.,  Part  II. 

*  In  the  Sourabaya  district,  and  corresponding  in  all  probability  to  the- 
anoient  capital  of  Jang'gala. 


CHINESE  INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     139 

the  army  returning  to  China,  a  mere  remnant  of  what  it  was 
on  its  arrival,  as  a  lesult  of  the  devastating  effects  ot  fighting 
during  the  wet  monsoon. 

The  history  of  the  Ming  dynasty  (a.d.  1368)  furnishes  us 
with  further  particulars  of  Java.  The  tribute  at  this  time 
appears  to  have  consisted  of  comely  black  slaves^  and  various 
products  of  the  island.  For  instance,  in  1381  three  hundred 
slaves,  men  and  women,  were  sent,  whilst  in  1382  one  hun- 
dred were  forwarded,  and,  as  it  were,  to  make  up  for  this 
small  number,  75,000  catties  of  pepper  and  eight  large  pearls 
were  sent  as  well.  The  emperor  in  his  graciousness  vouch- 
safed to  return  some  eunuchs  to  Java  with  silver  seals 
inlaid  with  gold,  together  with  costly  silks  and  gauzes 
embroidered  with  gold. 

In  1432  the  Chinese  w^ere  trading  with  Pekalongan,  and 
were  gradually  assuming  a  monopoly  of  the  trade  of  the 
country,  so  that  by  the  time  the  Portuguese  arrived  at 
Bantam  (a.d.  1500)  it  was  almost  entirely  in  the  hands  of 
this  born  race  of  traders. 

One  hundred  years  after  this  the  Chinese  histories  make 
special  mention  of  the  red-haired  barbarians  (Dutch  and 
English)  estabhshing  a  **  toko  "  (office)  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  Bantam  river,  whilst  the  Franks  (Danes)  had  another 
and  were  trading  on  the  west  bank  (a.d.  1600). 

When  a  Chinese  ship  arrived  there  at  this  time  a  chief 
came  on  board  to  procure  information  and  see  what  there 
was  on  the  ship.  He  was  at  once  presented  by  the  Chinese 
captain  with  a  basket  of  oranges  and  two  small  umbrellas. 
The  chief  then  wrote  to  the  king,  and  on  the  ship  entering 
the  river,  the  king  was  presented  with  fruits  and  silk. 

The  king  had  four  Chinese  and  two  native  writers  to  keep 
his  books,  and  Chinamen  who  knew  the  foreign  language ' 
acted  as  his  interpreters,  one   man   for   every  ship.     For 

1  From  Madagascar  and  Java. 
'  Malay  and  Javanese. 


140  JAVA 

trading  purposes  the  King  of  Bantam  assigned  two  places 
outside  the  town  where  shops  were  built  by  the  energetic 
Chinese.  In  the  morning  the  trade  was  carried  on,  every 
one  going  to  the  market-place  ;  at  noon  it  ceased.  The 
king  levied  market  dues  daily,  which  the  Chinese  readily 
paid,  such  was  the  profit  they  made. 

Bantam  was  during  the  seventeenth  century  a  most 
important  trading  place,  and  eight  or  nine  large  junks  full 
of  goods  arrived  here  yearly.  The  same  was  the  case  in 
East  Java  at  Yortan  (Bangil)  and  Grissee  ;  when  the  Dutch 
were  firmly  established  in  the  island  the  Chinese  were  the 
mainstay  of  the  trade,  besides  which  they  farmed  everything 
they  possibly  could,  whether  it  was  the  duties  or  the  taxes. 

The  shipping  of  goods  or  the  unloading  of  cargoes  was 
entirely  in  their  hands  ;  the  trade  with  the  neighbouring 
islands  was  more  or  less  their  monopoly,  while  there  w^as 
not  a  single  industry  in  which  they  were  not  the  prime 
movers.  The  artisans  for  building  houses  or  ships  were 
Chinese  ;  when  contractors  were  required  for  the  delivery 
of  sugar,  rice,  or  pepper  they  w^ere  Chinese,  and  what  the 
Dutch  owe  to  this  race  in  Java  is  incalculable. 

There  is,  of  course,  a  commercial  instinct  born  in  every 
Chinaman  which  is  uppermost  in  all  his  thoughts,  and  for 
the  sake  of  gain  he  will  stop  at  nothing.  At  the  same  time 
there  is  nothing  mean  about  him,  and  the  big  merchants  are 
among  the  best  and  most  honest  in  the  world. 

Shortly  after  Jacatra  fell  and  the  city  of  Batavia  was 
established  ;  the  first  captain  Chinaman  was  appointed  on 
the  1st  July,  1620.  This  was  So  Bing  Kong,  who  died  in 
1631,  and  whose  grave  is  still  to  be  seen  in  excellent  preserva- 
tion on  the  Jacatra  road. 

He  was  followed  by  Bing  Am,  who  in  1650  bought  a  large 
piece  of  forest  land  outside  the  fort  of  Ryswyck  in  Jacatra, 
which  was  later  called  Tannabang  and  purchased  by  the 
Dutch  family  of  the  name  of  Bik  (see  note,  p.  142). 


CHINESE   INTERCOURSE  WITH  JAVA     141 

The  next  captain  Chinaman  was  Si  Kwa,  vv'ho  died  in 
1663,  his  duties  being  performed  by  his  widow  until  the 
29th  June,  1678,  when  by  order  a  captain,  Heutenant,  and 
**  senior  "  Chinaman  were  appointed.  The  Chinaman  Tjop 
Wanjok,  who  had  hved  forty  years  at  Batavia,  was  the 
man  chosen  for  captain.  He  was  described  as  the"  most 
popular  and  principal  of  all  the  Chinese  at  Batavia."  It 
was  expected  of  him  that  in  all  important  matters  he  should 
consult  with  the  two  other  officers. 

This  was  the  origin  of  the  "  Chinese  Council  of  Batavia" 
(Chineeschen  Eaad),  which  was  established  by  a  Government 
Besluit  or  Order  dated  the  26th  May,  1747. 

In  1740  the  great  Chinese  rebellion  broke  out,  but  in 
1743,  when  the  Chinese  all  returned  to  Batavia,  they  were 
given  many  privileges  they  had  never  had  before,  besides 
being  allowed  to  buy  land  and  estates  more  freely.  This 
was  the  origin  of  an  increased  trade  in  sugar  and  the 
establishment  of  more  sugar  mills  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Batavia. 

The  reader  may  consult  a  report  before  a  Select  Com- 
mittee in  London  by  John  Deans,  Scott  &  Co.  (1814 — 
1826).  This  document  will  be  found  a  useful  addition 
to  this  chapter. 

List  of  estates  around  Jacatra  ow^ned  by  Chinese  between 
1650  and  1684  :— 

Name  of  Land.  Purchager. 

Tanah-abang.  Bing  Am. 

List  of  estates  as  far  as  Buitenzorg  owned  by  Chinese  after 
Resolution  of  the  East  India  Compan}^  8th  July,  1685 : — 

Bought  Name  of  Estate.  Purchaser. 

April  11,  1707  .  On  the  Tangerang  river  .  Tan  Boeko. 

May  11,  1707  .  Malanbang  ....  Due  Hoeiiko. 

May  7,  1709  .  At  Bekassie  .  .  .  Que  Boucqua. 

April  1,  1712  .  A   piece  of  ground  on  river  Quat  Siog. 

Tjidanie. 

July  7,  1724  .  A  piece  of  ground  at  Bekassie  Ni  locco. 


142  JAV^A 

After  the  defeat  of  the  Sultan  Ageng  of  Bantam  **  Tang- 
geran  "  and  "  Bogoh  "  were  included  by  the  East  India 
Company  in  its  boundaries. 


Note. — Bing  Am  built  a  large  house  for  himself  on  the  top  of 
the  hill,  which  therefore  received  the  name  of  Bing  Am's  Hill, 
but  later  on  was  called  Tanah  Bang  Hill  (perhaps  from  Tanah 
Bing).  About  1709  G.  G.  van  Riebeeck  built  himself  a  house  or 
enlarged  the  old  one  on  this  hill,  which  still  stands  (a  photo  of 
the  original  house  is  given).  In  1740  the  land  and  house  seem  to 
have  been  bought  by  David  Johamies  Smith,  and  on  his  death 
about  1768  the  property  was  sold  for  80,000  ryksdaalders.  A 
small  portion  of  the  land  was  bought  or  leased  by  Gillian  Maclaine 
in  1823,  who  built  himself  a  house  there  in  1827,  which  cost 
nearly  £20,000,  but  in  May,  1828,  he  sold  it  to  Wilham  Thompson, 
of  the  English  house  of  Tiiompson,  Roberts  &  Co.,  who  again  sold 
it  in  1829  when  he  returned  to  Europe. 

(Extract  from  Java  Courant,  21st  May,  1829  :  "  For  sale  the 
house  at  Tanna  Bang,  at  present  occupied  by  Mr.  W.  Thompson. 
Apply  Thompson,  Roberts  &  Co.") 

John  Macneill,  of  Maclaine,  Watson  &  Co.,  bought  this  same 
house  in  1840,  but  on  the  8th  November,  1843,  sold  it  to  John 
Campbell,  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Paterson  &  Co.,  which  started 
at  Batavia  in  1832  and  eventually  merged  in  Martin  Dyce  &  Co. 
in  1842.  Wlien  G.  Maclaine  sold  the  house  he  had  built  he 
went  into  van  Riebeeck's  old  palace,  and  the  head  partners  of 
Maclaine,  Watson  &  Co.  hved  here  for  several  years,  after  which 
they  took  up  their  abode  at  another  house  in  Tanah  Bang,  near 
the  end  of  the  present  Gang  de  Riemer,  a  house  which  apparently 
had  been  built  in  1816  by  John  Deans,  the  head  of  the  well-known 
Batavia,  Samarang,  and  Sourabaya  house  of  Deans,  Scott  &  Co. 

When  the  partners  of  Maclaine,  Watson  &  Co,  left  van  Rie- 
beeck's old  house  John  Campbell  went  into  it.  John  Campbell, 
now,  came  from  Argyllshire,  and  according  to  Colonel  Leith 
Bonhote  (whose  father  was  a  partner  in  Maclaine,  Watson  &  Co.) 
this  house  was  christened  "  Argyll  Lodge,"  and  was  so  Imown  for 
a  considerable  number  of  years.  (This  on  inquiring  has  proved 
correct.)  It  has  now,  however,  gone  back  to  its  original  name 
"  Tanah  Bang  House  "  ;  all  this  land  around  Tanah  Bang 
belongs  nowadays  to  the  Bik  family. 


THIRD    PERIOD 

The  Arrival   of  the  Europeans 


CHAPTER   IV 
Java's  First  European  Visitors 

Sighelmus. — We  must  dismiss  as  rather  improbable  the 
story  given  us  by  the  Saxon  chronicler  that  in  the  "  glorious 
reign  of  King  Alfred  "  (a.d.  883)  one  of  this  king's  favourite 
ecclesiastics,  named  Sighelmus,  was  sent  to  the  East  Indies 
"  to  help  the  poor  distressed  Christians  there,"  though  he 
certainly  did  make  a  voyage  to  some  foreign  country,  for 
William  of  Malmesbury  states  as  a  fact  that  he  visited  the 
tomb  of  St.  Thomas  at  Maliapur  (Peacock  Town)  and  brought 
back  with  him  a  quantity  of  jewels  and  spices. 

Marco  Polo. — We  come  then  first  of  all  to  the  travels  of 
Marco  Polo,  that  prince  of  exaggerators  who  in  1292  visited 
Sumatra,^  and  thus  has  the  honour  as  far  as  is  known  of 
being  the  first  European  to  visit  the  East  Indies.  Most  of 
the  tales  of  this  traveller  are  so  filled,  however,  with  in- 
temperate expressions,  and  as  we  know  are  so  grossly 
exaggerated,  that  considerable  caution  must  be  used  when 
reading  him.  When  he  tells  us  of  Java  that  there  were 
"  eight  kingdoms  with  as  many  kings,"  that  "  its  people  are 
idolaters,"  and  "  the  country  contains  abundance  of  riches, 
spices,  lignum  aloes,  sappran  wood,  and  various  kinds  of 
drugs,"  we  know  he  is  relating  true  facts  which  have  been 
given  to  him  by  his  Chinese  friends,  who  no  doubt  had 
travelled  in  the  same  junk  with  him  from  China. 

Odoric  di  Pordenone. — The  next  European  visitor  to  Java 
was  Odoric  di  Pordenone  in  Friuli,  a  Minorite  friar  of  the 
Order  of  St.  Francis.  He  was  born  in  1281,  and  is  supposed 
to  have  begun  his  travels  in  1318,  returning  to  Europe  about 

*  He  was  there  from  September  to  April. 
J. — VOL.   I.  L 


146  JAVA 

1330  and  dying  the  year  following.  He  visited  Constanti- 
nople, thence  overland  to  the  Persian  Gulf  and  Madras.  He 
tells  us  he  left  Madras  by  sea  and  in  fifty  days  reached 
Sumatra,  "  in  which  I  begin  to  lose  sight  of  the  North  Star 
as  the  earth  intercepted  it,  and  in  that  country  the  heat  is 
so  excessive  that  all  the  folk  there,  both  men  and  women,  go 
naked,  not  clothing  themselves  in  anywise."  He  described 
the  natives  here  as  "an  evil  and  pestilent  generation," 
who  had  no  formal  marriage  and  among  whom  "  all  women 
were  common  property."  Odoric  passed  down  Sumatra, 
visiting  "  Eesengo  "  or  "  Eejang,"  where  the  famous  gold 
mines  are. 

From  Sumatra  he  crossed  over  to  Java,  a  country  which 
was  ruled  by  a  king  who  had  seven  other  monarchs  tributary 
to  him.  He  evidently  visited  Majapahit,  for  he  was  greatly 
struck  by  its  riches  and  by  the  magnificence  of  the  palace  in 
which  its  sovereign  had  his  dwelling.  He  observes  that 
Java  is  the  second  best  island  in  the  world,  Sumatra  appa- 
rently being  the  best ;  otherwise  when  he  recounted  later 
his  visit  to  a  land  which  "  produced  sago,  honey,  toddy,  and 
a  deadly  vegetable  poison,  which  was  used  to  smear  the 
blowpipe  darts  of  the  natives,  who  were  nearly  all  rovers," 
he  would  undoubtedly  have  held  that  this  island,  which  can 
be  no  other  than  Borneo,  was  the  best. 

Nicolo  Conti. — For  over  a  century  after  this  no  further 
account  is  given  us  of  any  European  travellers  finding  their 
way  to  Java,  or  writing  upon  it,  until  we  come  to  a  noble 
Venetian  of  the  name  of  Nicolo  Conti,  who  travelled  in  India 
and  the  East  between  1419  and  1444.  He  eventually 
reached  Pegu,  whence  he  crossed  to  Java.     He  says  that : — 

"  In  Further  India  are  two  islands  towards  the  extreme 
confines  of  the  world,  both  of  which  are  called  Java,  .  .  . 
distinguished  by  the  names  of  the  Greater  and  Less  " — the 
Java  Major  and  Java  Minor  of  other  travellers,  usually 
identified  with  Java  and  Bah,  but  by  some  with  Sumatra 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     147 

and  Java.  Conti  would  seem  to  be  describing  Java  and 
Sumbawa.  He  remained  in  Java  nine  months.  After 
fifteen  days'  sail  beyond  these  islands  eastward,  two  others, 
he  says,  are  found,  "  the  one  called  Sandai  (Ceram),  in 
which  nutmegs  and  mace  grow,  and  the  other  is  named 
Bandan  (Banda).  This  is  the  only  island  in  which  cloves 
grow,  which  are  exported  hence  to  the  Java  islands." 

Ludovico  di  Vartheyna. — A  Bolognese  named  Ludovico  de 
Varthema,  whose  travels  have  been  edited  by  the  Kev.  W. 
George  Percy  Badger  for  the  Hakluyt  Society,  travelled  in 
India  and  the  Eastern  Seas  from  1503  to  1508,  and  touched 
Java  about  1505.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  Persian  and 
visited  the  island  of  Bandan  (Banda),  "  where  the  nutmegs 
and  mace  grow,"  and  then  "  the  island  of  Bornei  (Borneo)," 
whence  they  "  crossed  over  to  Giava  (Java)." 

Meantime,  however,  Marco  Polo  had  arrived  home  and 
the  accounts  of  his  travels  had  got  abroad  ;  but  instead  of 
being  lauded  as  a  hero  he  was  considered  an  astonishing 
prevaricator  of  the  truth,  who  had  little  regard  for  the 
wisdom  of  the  people,  when  he  expected  them  to  believe 
him  and  his  fantastic  tales. 

The  King  of  Portugal,  however,  whose  mind  had  early 
been  attracted  "  by  the  treasures  of  the  Arabs  "  and  of 
"  rich  India,"  began  to  think  that  there  was  truth  in  the 
reports  that  were  being  circulated,  and  called  his  chief 
navigators  together  in  order  that  he  might  interrogate  them 
upon  the  matter.  He  eventually  ordered  that  sailing 
voyages  be  taken  down  the  coast  of  Africa.  Cape  Nun  or 
Non,  i.e.,  "  no  further,"  was  the  Hmit  of  the  West  Coast  of 
Africa  as  then  known  to  Europe.  Cape  Bojador  was  later 
on  reached,  so  named  from  its  great  compass  (it  stretches 
out  forty  leagues  into  the  Atlantic).  Here  were  met  those 
strong  currents  running  past  it  that  had  apparently  been 
the  real  barrier  to  the  circumnavigation  of  Africa  by  the 
Phoenicians  and  the  Carthaginians  from  the  west,  as  those 

L  2 


148  JAVA 

that  after  the  voyage  of  Da  Gama,  still  to  be  related,  gave 
their  name  to  Cape  Corrientes,  north  of  Delagoa  Bay,  had 
prevented  the  Arabs  from  circumnavigating  the  continent 
from  the  east. 

Before  this,  however,  the  Norman  navigators  of  Dieppe  are 
reported  to  have  secretly  visited  the  West  Coast  of  Africa 
south  of  Cape  Nun  and  to  have  established  factories  there, 
whence  they  imported  articles  of  African  produce,  including 
ivory,  for  the  manufacture  of  the  carved  trinkets  for  which 
Dieppe  has  ever  since  been  known  ;  and  in  1402  the  Sieur 
de  Bethen  Court,  a  native  of  Grainville  la  Teinturiere,  in 
the  Pays  de  Caux,  settled  a  French  colony  in  the  Canaries 
(so  called  because  they  abounded  with  wild  dogs),  the  dis- 
covery of  which  is  also  claimed  by  the  Spaniards,  who 
became  masters  of  the  islands  in  1483.^  It  is  not  unhkely, 
however,  that  they  were  originally  discovered  by  the 
Phoenicians,  and  have  always  been  identified  with  the  half- 
fabulous  Insulce  Fortunatce  of  classical  geography. 

In  1411  Madeira  was  discovered  (so  called  from  its  woods), 
and  was  then  found  to  have  been  previously  visited  about 
the  year  1344  by  a  j^oung  Englishman  named  Eobert 
Machin,  who  ran  away  to  sea  with  "  fair  Anne  of  Dorset " 
(really  a  Frenchwoman,  Anne  d'Arfet),  and  was  fortui- 
tously cast  with  his  young  wife  on  this  island,  where 
their  romantic  grave  gives  its  name  to  the  province  of 
Machico.'^ 

The  Azores  (so  called  from  the  goshawks  abounding  on 
them)  were  discovered  in  1448. 

The  following  year  the  Cape  Verde  (Green)  Islands  were 
discovered. 

Sierra  Leone  (so  called  from  the  nightly  roaring  on  the 
mountains  ranging  along  it)  was  reached  in  1463,   and  in 

1  The  "  canary  bird  "  was  first  brought  to  England  about  this  date. 
^  For  all  this  see  "  Report  on  Old  Records  of  the  India  Office,"  by  Sir 
George  Birdwood. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     149 

1484  Don  Diego  Cam  made  his  renowned  discovery  of  the 
Congo  kingdom. 

Two  years  later  the  King  of  Portugal,  John  11./  employed 
Bartholomew  Diaz  and  sent  him  off  with  instructions  to  try 
and  find  some  particulars  of  the  East  Indies.  The  journey 
was  a  terrible  one,  the  ship  being  small  with  only  a  very 
diminutive  victualling  bark  for  company,  which  on  their 
sighting  the  Cape  was  lost  owing  to  the  bad  weather.  This 
led  the  crew  of  his  own  vessel  to  mutiny.  Captain  Diaz 
managed,  however,  to  pacify  them  at  last  with  the  assurance 
that  they  could  put  into  land  and  refresh  as  soon  as  possible. 
Bartholomew  Diaz  put  in  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and 
called  it  "  Caho  Tormentoso  "  (Cape  of  Storms).  "  No," 
said  the  King  of  Portugal  on  his  return  to  Lisbon,  "  Cabo 
de  la  Buena  Esperanza  " — that  is,  rather,  the  "  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  "  for  finding  India.^ 

Next  of  all  Don  Vasco  da  Gama,  "  a  man  of  quality,"  we 
are  told,  who  possessed  all  the  talents  necessary  for  such  an 
employment,  was  given  instructions  to  take  command  of  the 
new  squadron  fitted  out  for  a  journey  to  the  East.  He 
embarked  on  Saturday,  the  8th  July,  1497,  and  sailed  down 
the  Tagus. 

His  flagship  was  the  Angel  Gabriel,  a  vessel  of  120  tons 
burden,  and  he  was  accompanied  by  the  Saint  Raphael,  the 
Pilot,  and  a  storeship.  Vasco  da  Gama  was  commissioned 
Admiral  and  General,  his  brother  Paul  and  his  friend 
Nicholas  Coello  being  appointed  to  commands  under  him. 

About  four  miles  from  Lisbon,  on  the  sea-shore,  stands 
the  sanctuary  of  Belem  {i.e.,  Bethlehem),  built  originally  by 
"  The  Navigator  "  for  the  resort  of  sailors.  Thither  the 
night  before  his  departure  Da  Gama  conducted  the  com- 

1  A  new  king  ;  the  previous  one,  called  "  The  Navigator,"  had  died  in 
1460. 

'^  On  the  12th  October,  1492,  Columbus,  seeking  to  discover  India,  found 
America. 


150  JAVA 

panions  of  his  expedition  to  pray  for  its  success,  and  there 
they  spent  the  whole  night  in  heartfelt  supplication  that 
their  journey  might  be  successful  and  their  ends  attained, 
a  prayer  which  was  most  certainly  answered.^  The  follow- 
ing day,  when  the  adventurers  marched  once  more  into 
their  ships,  the  whole  population  of  Lisbon  turned  out  on 
to  the  beach,  headed  by  an  unending  procession  of  priests 
in  long  robes,  bearing  banners  and  singing  anthems,  the 
whole  crowd  singing  with  them  ;  and  when  Da  Gama  spread 
his  sails  to  the  wind,  not  knowing  to  what  fate  they  might 
bear  him,  the  vast  multitudes  remained  motionless  and 
silent  by  the  sea,  until  he  with  his  whole  fleet  had  passed 
out  of  sight. 

This  was  a  great  day  in  the  history  of  the  Portuguese 
nation. 

On  the  20th  November  following,  at  noon,  he  doubled 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  steering  northward,  sailed 
along  the  beautiful  and  richly- wooded  coast  so  accurately 
described  by  Camoens. 

On  Thursday,  the  17th  May,  1498,  the  Malabar  coast  was 
sighted,  and  on  Sunday,  the  20th,  they  cast  anchor  before 
the  city  of  Calicut.  Here  he  was  warmly  welcomed  by  a 
Moor  there,  who  spoke  the  Portuguese  tongue,  and  with 
the  permission  of  the  zamorin  at  once  established  a  factory 
under  the  superintendence  of  Diego  Diaz,  the  brother  of  the 
first  discoverer  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  After  some 
trouble  with  the  Moors,  who  as  soon  as  they  found  out  the 
quest  of  the  Portuguese  gave  them  all  the  trouble  they 
could.  Da  Gama  set  sail  on  his  return  voyage  on  the  5th 
October,  carrying  a  letter  with  him  from  the  zamorin  to  the 
King  of  Portugal.  This  letter  read  as  follows  :  "In  my 
kingdom  there  is  abundance  of  cinnamon,  cloves,  ginger, 
pepper,  and  precious  stones  in  great  quantities.  What  I 
seek  from  thy  country  is  gold,  silver,  coral,  and  scarlet." 

>  "  Report  on  the  Old  Records  of  the  India  Office,"  by  Sir  G.  Birdwood. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN    VISITORS    151 

He  returned  by  way  of  the  East  Coast  of  Africa,  by  which 
time  his  crew  had  so  diminished  that  he  was  obhged  to  bm^n 
one  of  his  consorts,  the  Saint  Raphael,  commanded  by  his 
brother  Paul  Gama,  taking  the  men  on  board  his  own  ship. 

On  the  1st  February,  1499,  the  Mozambique  Channel  was 
reached,  and  on  the  20th  March  he  again  doubled  the  Cape, 
Avhence  he  proceeded  to  the  Azores,  arriving  at  last  in  the 
month  of  September  at  Lisbon,  having  lost  by  sickness  more 
than  one  hundred  men,  amongst  them  his  brother. 

He  was  received  by  the  king  and  his  court  with  every 
possible  favour,  being  created  Count  de  Vidiguera  with  the 
arms  of  Portugal,  and  given  '*  rich  and  lucrative  appoint- 
ments." 

Vasco  da  Gama  was  a  man  in  truth,  as  w^as  borne  witness 
to  by  his  men  and  officers  who  remained  faithful  to  him  ; 
and  these  he  did  not  now^  forget,  as  many  w^ould  have  done, 
but  showered  gifts  on  them  down  to  the  last  man. 

When  the  Portuguese,  rounding  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
burst  into  the  Indian  Ocean  '*  like  a  pack  of  hungry  wolves 
upon  a  well-stocked  sheep-walk,"  they  found  a  peaceful  and 
prosperous  commerce  that  had  been  elaborated  during  three 
thousand  years  by  the  Phoenicians  and  Arabs  and  was  being 
carried  on  along  all  its  shores.  The  great  centres  of  this 
trade  were  then  at  Calicut,  Ormuz,  Aden,  and  Malacca. 
Here  were  collected  the  cloves,  nutmegs,  mace,  and  ebony 
of  the  Moluccas,  the  sandal- wood  of  Timor,  the  costly 
camphor  of  Borneo,  the  benzoin  of  Sumatra  and  Java,  the 
aloes-wood  of  Cochin  China,  the  perfumes,  gums,  and  silks 
of  China,  Japan,  and  Siam,  the  rubies  of  Pegu,  the  fine 
fabrics  of  Coromandel,  the  richer  stuffs  of  Bengal,  the 
pearls  of  Ceylon,  the  ginger  of  Malabar,  the  musk  of  Tibet, 
the  civet  and  ivory  of  Zanzibar,  and  the  balsam  of  Berbera, 
and  so  forth.^ 

The   King  of   Portugal  soon  saw  that  it  was  of  vital 

"  Report  on  the  Old  Records  of  the  India  Office,"  by  Sir  G.  Birdwood. 


152  JAVA 

importance  for  his  country  to  possess  the  great  Arab 
centres  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  and  the  difficulties  which 
presented  themselves  to  Da  Gama  on  his  first  voyage  led 
the  king  to  send  out  a  second  fleet  of  great  strength  con- 
sisting of  thirteen  ships,  with  1,200  soldiers  on  board. 

This  squadron  sailed  in  March,  1500,  under  the  command 
of  Don  Pedro  Alverez  da  Cabral.  The  sum  of  his  instruc- 
tions appears  to  have  been  "  Preach  first,  but  if  this  does  not 
prove  successful,  use  the  sword."  Cabral  touched  Sofala, 
Mozambique,  Quiloa,  and  Melinda,  arriving  at  Calicut  in 
September.  Here  he  quarrelled  with  the  zamorin,  who 
burnt  the  Portuguese  factory  by  way  of  revenge  and 
massacred  fifty  people  in  it.  Cabral  hereupon  pillaged  the 
town  and  then  sailed  for  Cochin,  where  he  built  a  new 
factory  and  made  an  advantageous  treaty  with  the  prince. 

On  his  return  voyage  he  visited  Melinda,  Mozambique, 
and  Sofala,  compelhng  the  chiefs  to  become  tributary  to 
Portugal. 

One  of  his  vessels,  commanded  by  Peter  Diaz,  discovered 
the  port  of  Magadoxa,  south  of  Cape  Guardafui. 

Cabral  returned  with  his  fleet  to  Portugal  in  1501  and  was 
received  by  the  king  with  much  pomp  and  ceremony.  The 
king  (now  King  Emanuel)  was  convinced  by  him  that  it 
would  be  only  possible  to  secure  the  splendid  fortune  that 
had  fallen  to  him  in  the  East  by  a  great  show  of  power  and 
overwhelming  force. 

Meantime,  however,  in  March,  1501,  before  Cabral's 
return,  four  ships  sailed  from  Lisbon  under  Juan  Nova, 
who  on  Lady  Day  discovered  the  island  he  called  Con- 
ception.^ He  then  visited  Cochin  and  Cananore,  from 
whence  he  sailed  to  Calicut,  where  he  sank  the  fleet  the 
zamorin  had  prepared  to  attack  the  Portuguese  when  they 
next  came. 

'  It  first  received  the  name  of  Ascension  from  Albuquerque  when 
rediscovered  by  him  on  the  20th  May,  1503. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN    VISITORS    153 

On  the  return  voyage  Nova  chanced  on  St.  Helena's  day 
to  discover  the  island  of  St.  Helena,  which  on  account  of  its 
excellent  supply  of  water  proved  during  the  days  of  the 
sailing  ships  of  such  advantage  to  all  engaged  in  the  India 
trade. 

The  great  Vasco  da  Gama  was  now  requested  to  sail  to 
India  for  the  second  time,  and  a  fleet  of  twenty  ships  was 
placed  under  his  command,  and  he  obtained  from  the  Pope 
Alexander  VI.  the  bull  which  conferred  on  him  the  title  of 
*'  Lord  of  the  Navigation,  Conquests  and  Trade  of  Ethiopia, 
Arabia,  Persia  and  India." 

Factories  were  estabhshed  at  Sofala  and  Mozambique 
and  an  alliance  formed  with  the  Kings  of  Cananore  and 
Cochin  against  the  Zamorin  of  Calicut.  He  bombarded 
Calicut  and  severely  damaged  the  town  and  the  zamorin's 
palace,  and  after  having  plundered  all  the  Arab  ships  in  the 
roads  returned  to  Portugal  in  December,  1503.  Shortly 
after  this,  in  the  same  year,  a  fleet  of  three  ships  under 
Alfonso  de  Albuquerque,  a  fleet  of  three  ships  under  Fran- 
cisco de  Albuquerque,  and  a  fleet  of  three  ships  under 
Antony  de  Saldanha  (who  was  the  first  Portuguese  to  visit 
SaldanhaBay  in  1503)  were  specially  commissioned  to  block 
the  Eed  Sea  against  the  overland  India  trade  through 
Egypt.  One  of  the  heutenants  of  this  squadron,  Ruy 
Lorenzo,  discovered  the  island  of  Zanzibar,  and,  with 
Mombas  and  Brava,  made  it  tributary  to  Portugal  in  1503. 

Francisco  de  Albuquerque  on  reaching  Cochin  found  the 
king  besieged  by  the  Zamorin  of  Calicut,  who  had  made  war 
on  him  for  entering  into  an  alliance  with  the  Portuguese. 
The  zamorin  was  soon  compelled  to  sue  for  terms,  and  gave 
the  Portuguese  permission  to  build  a  fort  at  Calicut.  Fran- 
cisco de  Albuquerque,  after  establishing  a  fort  at  Quila  and 
another  at  St.  Thome  and  leaving  a  small  force  for  the 
protection  of  the  allies  of  Portugal  in  India,  sailed  for 
Portugal,  but  neither  he  nor  his  ships  were  ever  heard  of 


154  JAVA 

again.  One  of  the  ships  under  him  also  discovered  on  the 
outward  voyage  the  Curia  Muria  islands  and  the  island  of 
Socotra,  rediscovered  in  1504-5  by  Diego  Fernandez 
Pereyra. 

The  Portuguese  discovered  the  island  afterwards  known 
as  Mauritius  in  1505. 

In  this  year  the  King  of  Portugal  sent  out  another  fili- 
bustering fleet — the  largest  that  had  so  far  been  sent,  con- 
sisting of  twenty-two  ships  and  15,000  men — under  the 
command  of  Francisco  de  Almeyda,  the  first  Portuguese 
Governor  and  Viceroy  of  India.  He  built  a  large  fort  at 
Cananore. 

The  following  year  another  fleet  of  sixteen  ships  under 
Tristan  da  Cunha,  who  was  the  discoverer  of  the  island  of 
that  name  and  of  Madagascar,  was  sent  to  India,  and  this 
was  immediately  followed  by  another  six  ships,  again  under 
Alfonso  de  Albuquerque. 

Ceylon  was  discovered,  it  is  said  by  accident,  in  1507  by 
a  son  of  the  first  Viceroy  of  India,  who  was  apparently 
sailing  upon  the  ocean  looking  for  pirates  (or  prizes). 
Muscat  was  next  rendered  tributary  and  Ormuz  taken. 

First  Portuguese  Visit  to  Sumatra. — Alfonso  de  Albu- 
querque now  decided  to  extend  the  power  and  dominion  of 
the  Portuguese  still  further  eastward,  and  sent  Diogo  Lopez 
de  Sequeira  in  command  of  a  fleet  of  five  ships  to  Sumatra^ 
and  Malacca,  a  town  of  which  he  had  heard  much. 

Malacca. — Some  hold  that  from  the  time  of  the  Phoeni- 
cians Malacca,  or  some  centre  near  it,  was  an  emporium  for 
the  spices,  tin,  and  other  products  of  the  East  Indian 
Archipelago.  At  the  moment  the  Portuguese  arrived  it 
was  a  thriving  and  populous  town,  doing  a  large  trade  with 
all  the  neighbouring  countries.  It  was,  in  short,  the  key 
of  the  navigation  and  the  emporium  of  the  whole  of  the 
trade  of  the  East  Indian  Archipelago,  Siam,  the  Phihppines, 

^  Visited  for  the  first  time  in  1608. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS    155 

the  China  Seas,  and  Japan.  The  Arabs  from  Arabia,  Persia, 
and  India  gathered  here  ;  but  they  had  not  the  monopoly 
by  any  means,  for  Hindus,  Pegunese,  Siamese,  and  Chinese 
were  also  doing  a  considerable  trade  here.  The  Arabs  had 
settled  in  Malacca  in  specially  large  numbers  ;  but  still 
greater  was  the  number  of  Javan  merchants  to  be  found 
there,  a  fact  which  is  noteworthy.  No  section  of  the  com- 
munity of  Malacca  was  richer  and  held  more  powder  than  the 
Javans. 

The  town  when  the  Portuguese  arrived  stretched  along 
the  sea-shore,  being  divided  in  two  by  a  small  river.  Here 
were  a  mosque  and  the  houses  of  the  different  merchants, 
who  hved  together  in  separate  divisions.  The  two  parts 
of  the  town  were  joined  by  a  wooden  bridge. 

At  both  ends  of  the  town  were  to  be  found  the  principal 
quarters  of  the  Javans.  In  the  east  the  merchants  from 
Tuban,  Japara,  Soenda  Kalapa  or  Jacatra  lived  together, 
in  the  west  those  from  Palembang.  The  head  of  the  Javan 
people  was  Rajah  Uti  Muti,  which  is  evidently  a  mutilated 
name.     He  was  an  old  man  about  80  years  of  age. 

When  Diogo  Lopez  arrived  with  his  five  ships  at  Malacca 
he  visited  the  Rajah  Uti  Muti,  who  received  them  with  fear 
and  doubt.  The  Portuguese  appear  to  have  behaved  at 
Malacca  as  they  did  in  most  places  they  visited,  and  their 
actions,  besides  being  treasonable,  were  apparently  highly 
repugnant  to  the  Javans.  It  was  not  long,  therefore,  before 
trouble  arose  with  this  proud  and  highly-bred  race,  which 
nearly  ended  in  Diogo  Lopez  being  killed. 

When  this  reached  the  ears  of  Albuquerque  he  decided  to 
proceed  to  Malacca  himself  to  punish  the  rajah  for  his 
treatment  of  his  countrymen.  As  is  well  known,  Albu- 
querque was  a  brave,  intrepid,  and  daring  navigator,  with 
not  a  particle  of  fear,  and  he  fully  made  up  his  mind  that, 
cost  what  number  of  lives  it  might,  Malacca  should  belong 
to  Portugal.     So  shortly  after  attacking  and  capturing  Goa 


156  JAVA 

on  the  17th  February,  1510,  he  sailed  for  Malacca.  He 
arrived  here  on  the  24th  July,  1510,  with  a  strong  fleet  of 
nineteen  ships,  and  at  once  visited  the  rajah,  who,  seeing 
the  force  against  him,  decided,  partly  no  doubt  from  fear, 
but  also  because  of  an  enmity  against  the  Sultan  of  Malacca, 
to  join  hands  secretly  with  the  Portuguese  and  seize  the 
town,  and  agreed  to  hold  six  hundred  Javans  at  their 
disposal. 

The  sultan  received  Albuquerque  fairly  well,  and  after 
some  persuasion  gave  him  a  piece  of  ground  of  a  size  "  suffi- 
cient to  be  covered  by  one  buffalo  hide  only."  The  hide, 
however,  the  wily  Albuquerque  cut  into  thin  strips,  measur- 
ing out  therewith  four  sides,  within  which  the  Portuguese, 
who  had  brought  ashore  spades,  bricks  and  mortar,  built 
a  storehouse  of  very  considerable  dimensions,  leaving  large 
square  openings  in  the  walls  for  the  guns.  When  the  king 
caused  an  inquiry  to  be  made  as  to  why  these  had  been  left, 
the  Portuguese  returned  him  for  answer  that  these  openings 
were  needed  by  white  men  for  windows,  with  which  reply 
he  was  content.  After  this  the  Portuguese  landed,  in  the 
night,  cannon,  small  arms  and  ammunition,  packed  in  cases, 
saying  their  contents  were  piece  goods.  Several  months 
afterwards  the  forts  were  complete,  and  by  way  of  apprising 
the  natives  of  the  fact  several  houses  were  fired  on  and 
destroyed. 

The  present  town  of  Malaka,  so  called  from  the  fruit- 
bearing  tree  myraholanum,  which  grew  in  abundance  on 
the  hill  behind  the  town,  which  gives  a  natural  strength  to 
the  situation,  was  founded  in  1252,  when  the  King  of 
Majapahit  ^  attacked  the  town  of  Singapura. 

After  the  fort  was  built  the  Portuguese  became  more  and 
more  aggressive  and  arrogant  towards  the  natives.  The 
sultan  saw  too  late  the  mistake  he  had  made  in  his  policy, 

'  Or  the  King  of  Japara.  Centuries  before  tliis  it  is  said  there  had  been 
a  settlement  here. 


SIR    FRANCIS    DRAKE.       (tHE    FIRST    ENGLISHMAN    TO    VISIT    JAVA.) 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS    157 

and  endeavoured  to  get  rid  of  them,  but  finding  this  im- 
possible, he  fled,  and  the  town  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Portuguese. 

For  his  assistance  the  rajah  was  made  shaJihander,  or 
post  officer,  by  Albuquerque,  a  none  too  high  reward,  seeing 
that  without  the  help  of  the  powerful  Javan  party  the 
Portuguese  would  have  been  driven  into  the  sea. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  Albuquerque  found 
reason  to  fall  out  with  the  rajah  also.  He  disliked  the 
power  that  he  held  and  mistrusted  him,  which  distrust  was 
not  lessened  when  agents  of  the  rajah  accused  him  of  being 
in  league  w^ith  the  son  of  the  sultan.  The  rajah,  his  son, 
his  son-in-law,  and  a  nephew  w^ere  therefore  seized  and 
imprisoned.  Finally  they  w^ere  tried  and  punished  by  death, 
on  the  same  piece  of  ground  where  Sequeira  nearl}^  paid  the 
last  penalty  for  his  aggressiveness.  The  wife  of  Eajah  Uti 
Muti  endeavoured  with  a  huge  sum  of  money,  and  the 
promise  to  leave  Malacca  at  once  and  proceed  to  Java,  to 
procure  the  release  of  her  aged  husband  and  son,  but  the 
Portuguese  would  not  hear  of  it.  After  this  Albuquerque 
sailed  for  Sumatra  on  the  24th  July,  1511,  and  then  returned 
to  Europe.  In  the  place  of  Uti  Muti  another  Javan  of 
importance  and  wealth  called  Pati  Katir  was  appointed 
to  be  shaJihander,  but  being  later  bribed  by  a  sum  of  money 
and  the  present  of  one  of  her  daughters  by  the  wife  of  Uti 
Muti,  who  A\'ished  for  revenge,  he  gave  the  Portuguese  no 
end  of  trouble.  At  last,  however,  he  had  to  flee.  This 
happened  just  at  the  beginning  of  1513. 

First  Portuguese  Visit  to  Java,  1511. — Meantime  another 
of  Albuquerque's  lieutenants,  Antonio  de  Abreu,  had  been 
sent  to  visit  Java,  and  calls  were  made  at  Gresik,  which  was 
full  of  Chinese  traders,  Tuban,  Amboyna,  and  Banda,  where 
the  spices  were  found. 

In  1522,  Bantam. — In  the  next  voyage  wliich  Albuquerque 
ordered  him  to  make  De  Abreu  visited  Bantam,  wliich  was 


158  JAVA 

then  under  the  rule  of  a  Hindu  prince.  This  prince  was 
already  beginning  to  feel  the  pressure  from  the  Mahometans 
sent  to  visit  his  kingdom  and  to  proselytise  his  people  by 
the  Sultan  of  Cheribon.  He  saw,  therefore,  the  opportunity 
of  freeing  himself  from  an  objectionable  thraldom  and 
possible  loss  of  his  kingdom,  and  he  therefore  departed  from 
his  usual  mode  of  procedure  and  seclusion  by  openly 
welcoming  the  Portuguese  strangers,  agreeing  to  allow  them 
to  trade  and  offering  them  a  site  whereon  to  build  a  fortress, 
"  banqueting  them  in  a  royal  fashion."  The  Portuguese 
accepted  all  this,  and  promised  to  return  again  and  make 
use  of  the  king's  friendhness.  The  king  hearing  this,  and 
fearing  that  they  were  not  satisfied,  offered  them  as  a 
further  mark  of  his  attention  and  desire  for  their  friendship 
one  thousand  bags  of  pepper  annually  from  the  day  on  which 
the  building  of  the  fort  was  begun. 

Later  on  Francisco  de  Sa  was  despatched  to  Java  with 
six  vessels  as  a  result  of  the  King  of  Bantam's  friendhness. 

Joao  de  Barros  in  his  "  Decades  "  gives  the  following 
description  of  Java^.  at  this  time  : — 

"  The  city,  which  is  in  the  middle  of  the  opening  of  the 
Straits  of  Sunda,  stands  in  the  centre  of  a  large  bay,  which 
from  point  to  point  may  be  about  three  leagues  wide,  the 
bottom  good,  and  the  depth  of  water  from  two  to  six 
fathoms.  A  river,  of  sufficient  depth  for  junks  and  galleys, 
falls  into  this  bay,  and  divides  the  town  into  two  parts. 
On  one  side  of  the  town  is  a  fort,  built  of  sun-dried  bricks  ; 
the  walls  are  about  seven  palms  thick,  the  bulwarks  of 
wood,  well  furnished  with  artillery." 

Java  was  then  said  to  have  six  good  seaports — "  ChiamOy 
at  the  extremity  of  the  island,  Chacatara  (Jacatra),  Tan- 
garam,  Cheginde,  Fandang,  and  Bintan  (Bantam) — which 
have  a  great  traffic  on  account  of  the  trade  carried  on,  not 
only  with   Java,   but   with  Malacca   and   Sumatra.     The 

1  Bantam,  althougli  it  reads  more  like  an  account  of  old  Majapahit. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS    159 

principal  city  of  this  kingdom  is  Daro,  situated  a  little 
towards  the  interior,  and  we  are  assured  this  town  had 
150,000  inhabitants,  and  that  the  kingdom  had  upwards  of 
100,000  fighting  men.  The  soil  is  very  rich  ;  an  inferior 
gold  of  six  carats  is  found.  There  is  abundance  of  butcher's 
meat,  game  and  provisions,  and  tamarinds,  which  serve  the 
natives  for  vinegar.  The  inhabitants  are  not  very  warlike, 
much  addicted  to  their  idolatries,  and  hate  the  Mahometans. 
The  Javans,^  however,  are  proud,  brave  and  treacherous, 
and  so  vindictive  that  for  any  slight  offence  (and  they 
consider  it  most  unpardonable,  the  touching  of  their  fore- 
head with  your  hand)  they  declare  amok  to  revenge  it. 
They  navigate  much  to  every  part  of  the  Eastern  Archi- 
pelago, and  say  formerly  they  used  to  navigate  the  ocean 
as  far  as  the  island  of  Madagascar.^  At  Daro  four  or  five 
thousand  slaves  may  be  purchased,  on  account  of  the 
numerous  population  and  its  being  lawful  for  the  father  to 
sell  the  children.  The  women  are  handsome  and  those  of 
the  nobles  chaste,  which  is  not  the  case  with  those  of 
the  lower  classes.  There  are  monasteries  or  convents  for 
the  women,  into  which  the  nobles  put  their  daughters  when 
they  cannot  match  them  in  marriage  according  to  their 
wishes.  The  married  women  when  their  husbands  die  as  a 
point  of  honour  die  with  them,  and  if  they  should  be  afraid 
of  death  they  are  put  into  the  convents.  The  kingdom 
descends  from  father  to  son,  and  not  from  uncle  to  nephew 
(son  of  the  sister),  as  among  the  Malabars  and  other  infidels 
in  India.  They  are  fond  of  rich  arms  ornamented  with 
gold  and  inlaid  work.  Their  knives  are  gilt,  and  also  the 
points  of  their  lances  ;  many  other  particulars  might  be 
added  concerning  the  productions  of  this  island,  in  which 
thirty  thousand  quintals  of  pepper  are  collected  annually." 

1  Javans  are  always  spoken  of  apart,  having  Hindu  blood  in  them,  while 
the  other  inhabitants  are  the  Malay  and  Sunda  race. 

2  This  is  quite  true. 


160  JAVA 

Francisco  de  Sa  was,  as  already  related,  despatched  to 
Bantam  with  six  vessels  from  Portugal  by  the  king  as  soon  as 
accounts  reached  him  of  the  success  of  the  first  mission  there. 

These  vessels  on  their  way  out  called  at  Malacca,  but  on 
leaving  this  port  they  were  overtaken  by  a  storm,  and  but 
one  of  his  vessels,  that  commanded  by  Dironte  Coelho, 
reached  the  port  of  Calapa,^  where  she  was  driven  on  shore, 
all  the  crew  perishing  at  the  hands  of  the  Arabs,  who  were 
then  masters  of  the  country  around,  they  having  a  short 
time  before  taken  the  town  from  the  native  (Hindu)  king 
who  had  concluded  the  treaty  with  the  King  of  Portugal 
and  given  him  the  site  on  which  to  erect  the  fortress. 

Antonio  de  Britto  was  now  sent  off  to  the  Moluccas, 
where  he  spent  several  years  roving  about. 

In  August,  1526,  on  his  return  from  Ternati  to  Malacca, 
he  "  touched  at  the  port  of  Paneruca  "  (Panaroekan),  where 
he  found  a  countryman  of  his,  Joao  de  Moreno,  who  had 
twenty  Malay  junks  under  his  command.  From  here  he 
proceeded  to  a  town  in  the  neighbourhood  ^  and  seized  a 
junk  full  of  cloves. 

The  Portuguese  were  now  beginning  to  understand  the 
geography  of  the  East  Indies,  and  sent  full  accounts  home 
to  their  king.  Don  Joao  studied  all  these  accounts  and 
particulars  for  some  time,  and  finally,  being  a  far-seeing 
man,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  for  the  Portuguese  to  be 
masters  of  the  situation  and  commanders  of  the  Straits  of 
Sunda  and  all  the  pepper  of  those  kingdoms  a  strong 
fortress  must  be  immediately  built  at  Bantam ;  further, 
that  if  the  Portuguese  possessed  three  fortresses,  one  on 
Acheen  Head,  one  on  the  coast  of  Pegu,  and  one  at  Bantam, 
the  navigation  of  the  East  could  be  controlled  and  in  a 
manner  locked  by  these  keys.     The  King  of  Portugal  would 

1  This  is  another  name  for  a  point  in  the  Bantam  district. 

2  Probably  Yortan  (Bangil)  or  Surabaya. 


JAVA'S  FIRST  EUROPEAN  VISITORS     161 

then  be  lord  of  all  its  riches,  and  "  the  Enghsh  and   the 
Turks  (Arabs)  could  be  kept  from  trading  here." 

The  idea  was  good,  but  with  the  wild  characters,  partly 
the  riff-raff,  of  the  Portuguese  nation  who  were  now  going 
to  the  East  the  quality  of  the  colonists  became  a  matter  of 
much  greater  importance  than  was  imagined,  for  nothing 
could  be  done,  or  any  security  assured  to  the  new  colonists, 
without  the  assistance  of  the  natives  of  these  countries. 
The  priests  of  the  Portuguese  religion,  who  were  landed 
everywhere  to  preach  the  Gospel,  certainly  at  first  won  the 
hearts  of  the  people,  always  •  greedy  for  novelties,  by  their 
meek  and  lowly  manner,  and  by  the  example  of  their 
modest  and  at  first  virtuous  life  ;  their  charitableness  and 
disinterested  assistance  moreover  to  the  sick  and  the  poor, 
as  also  the  pomp  and  majesty  of  their  divine  service,  the 
paraphernalia  for  which  they  always  carried  about  with 
them,  enchanted  the  Oriental  races,  and  the  natives  of  these 
countries,  hearing  the  wonders  which  the  foreigners  carried 
with  them,  welcomed  their  merchants  everywhere.  It  did 
not  take  long,  however,  before  their  eyes  were  opened,  and 
they  found  the  strangers  were  wolves  in  disguise  and  the 
very  incarnation  of  the  devil.  The  spiritual  fathers  were 
moreover,  as  time  went  on,  an  utter  disappointment  to 
them,  and  they  discovered  that  they  did  not  aim  only  at 
the  salvation  of  their  souls,  but  had  an  eye  to  their  money, 
whilst  the  traders  disposed  of  the  goods  (frequently  seized 
without  any  payment)  in  a  most  usurious  and  unscrupulous 
manner.  The  priests,  moreover,  became  more  puffed  up 
by  their  successes,  and  found  it  beneath  their  dignity  to 
walk  on  foot  any, longer.  The  day  had  passed  for  that,  and 
palanquins  embellished  with  gold  now  became  the  style. 
In  fact  the  natives  everywhere  were  so  heartily  sick  and 
disgusted  with  the  Portuguese  that  they  were  ready  to 
welcome  any  other  race  that  should  come  along,  if  only  it 
would  turn  these  wretched  degenerates  out.     For  the  next 

J. — VOL.    I.  M 


162  JAVA 

forty-five  years  the  Portuguese  were  the  masters  of  the 
East,  and  this  was  the  period  of  their  greatest  renown. 
From  Firando/  in  Japan,  to  the  Red  Sea,  from  India  to  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  they  were  the  sole  and  absolute  lords 
and  dispensers  of  the  riches  and  treasures  of  the  East,  and 
their  positions  along  West  Africa  and  in  Brazil  completed 
their  world  power.  What  the  Phoenicians  had  been  the 
Portuguese  were  now,  and  more.  But  the  power  built  up 
with  a  poor  foundation  soon  began  to  decay. 

A  lack  of  commercial  knowledge,  a  want  of  military  and 
political  resource,  a  scarcity  of  really  good  men,  and  an 
entire  want  of  tact  in  colonising  foreign  countries  belonging 
to  Oriental  races  whom  they  drove  to  desperation  by  their 
cruelties  were  bound  to  tell.  One  has  only  to  read  the 
accounts  of  the  expeditions  of  Da  Gama,  Menezes,  Suarez, 
Sequeira,  and  the  other  viceroys  to  perceive  that  with  rulers 
as  cruel  as  these  no  nation  could  succeed  ;  for  if  the  viceroys 
were  like  this  towards  the  natives,  what  was  to  be  expected 
from  the  common,  ignorant  men  who  had  been  nothing  in 
their  own  country  ? 

The  Portuguese  therefore  lost  all  the  advantages  gained 
by  their  splendid  maritime  discoveries  wholly  through 
their  own  fault,  and  that  they  were  ousted  by  the  more 
humane,  conciliatory,  level-headed,  well-balanced  and  in- 
telligent Dutchmen,  a  nation  of  born  colonists,  is  a  thing 
for  which  all  Christians  must  for  ever  be  thankful.  The 
period  of  the  highest  development  of  the  Portuguese  com- 
merce was  probably  from  1590  to  1610,  just  before  their 
overthrow  by  the  Dutch,  when  their  political  administration 
in  the  East  was  at  its  lowest  depth  of  degradation.  At  this 
period  a  single  fleet  of  Portuguese  merchantmen  sailing 
from  Goa  to  Cambay  or  Surat  would  number  as  many  as 
one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  and  fifty  vessels. 
To-day  only  one  ship  sails  yearly  from  Lisbon  to  Goa,  so 

'  Nagasaki. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN  VISITORS     163 

low  has  fallen  a  people  who  once  commanded  the  whole 
commerce  of  the  Eastern  world.  The  Portuguese  empire 
in  the  East  Indies  from  its  beginnings  in  1511,  when  Albu- 
querque established  himself  at  Malacca,  to  the  final  extinc- 
tion of  their  power  in  1641,  when  they  were  thoroughly 
routed  by  the  Dutch  and  Malacca  fell,  had  always  rested  on 
rather  an  unsubstantial  foundation,  and  was  only  main- 
tained by  a  ready  sword.  Although  trading  in  Sumatra 
and  Java,  they  do  not  even  appear  to  have  had  factories 
here,  unless  they  had  one  at  Bantam  or  old  Jacatra  for  a 
short  period.^ 

In  1527  an  Englishman  of  the  name  of  Robert  Thorne, 
a  merchant  from  London,  happened  to  settle  in  Seville,  and 
whilst  here  heard  all  about  the  discoveries  in  the  East.  He 
immediately  made  known  his  ideas  to  King  Henry  VIII., 
who  listened  to  his  accounts  with  much  attention,  but 
nothing  was  done  for  fifty  years. 

First  Efiglish  Expedition  to  the  East  Indies. — In  1577 
Francis  Drake  made  his  memorable  voyage  round  the  world 
with  the  following  squadron  : — 

The  Golden  Hind,  of  100  tons  (Francis  Drake,  Captain- 
General)  ;  the  Elizabeth,  of  80  tons  (Captain  John  Winter)  ; 
the  Marigold,  of  30  tons  (Captain  John  Thomas)  ;  the  Swan, 
of  50  tons  (Captain  John  Chester)  ;  the  Christopher,  of 
15  tons  (Captain  Thomas  Moon). 

These  ships  were  manned  with  164  men  and  plentifully 
furnished  with  provisions.     A  great  deal  of  knowledge  of 

1  The  Portuguese  at  one  time  possessed  the  following  places  in  the  Far 
East : — In  Ceylon  :  Point  de  Galle,  Colombo,  Jafnapatam,  Manar.  East 
Indies  :  Malacca,  Pegu,  Martaban,  Junkceylon,  Qiieddah,  Mindanao,  the 
Moluccas,  the  Banda  Islands,  Macassar  (where  they  built  a  fort),  Timor 
(where  they  built  a  fort).  Bantam.  China  :  Macao,  Formosa  (on  which 
they  built  five  forts,  one  at  Keelung,  one  at  Hobo,  two  at  Tauvanfoo,  one 
at  Takow).  Japan  :  Firando  (an  island  outside  Nagasaki).  All  these 
possessions  were  held  in  subordination  to  the  supreme  Government  at  Goa, 
where  the  viceroy  presided  over  the  civil  and  military  and  an  archbishop 
over  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  whole  of  Portuguese  Asia. 

M   2 


164  JAVA 

the  East,  which  had  to  a  great  extent  been  a  sealed  book 
to  the  EngHsh  up  to  the  present,  was  now  obtained,  and  this 
was  to  be  further  amphfied  by  the  return  shortly  afterwards 
in  1579  of  Thomas  Stephens,  a  Britisher,  from  Goa,  where 
he  had  resided  for  some  time.^ 

Of  the  Moluccas  Captain  Drake  did  not  relate  much  in 
his  log-book  beyond  that  he  was  well  received  and  en- 
couraged to  remain,  as  the  Kings  of  Tidore  and  Ternate 
were  disgusted  with  the  Portuguese.  Here  he  took  in 
three  tons  of  cloves,  and  the  King  of  Ternate  agreed  to 
supply  the  English  with  all  the  cloves  the  island  produced. 

Of  Bantam,  however,  we  are  given  rather  a  full  account : — 

"  On  leaving  the  Moluccas  we  sailed  for  Java,  where  we  met 
with  a  courteous  and  honourable  entertainment.  The  island  is 
governed  by  five  kings,  who  Uve  in  perfect  good  understanding 
with  each  other.  The  Javans  are  a  stout  and  warlike  people, 
go  well  armed  with  swords,  targets  and  daggers,  all  of  their  own 
manufacture,  which  is  very  curious  both  as  to  the  fashion  and 
temper  of  the  metal.  They  wear  Turkish  turbans  on  their  heads  ; 
the  upper  part  of  their  body  is  naked,  but  from  the  waist  down- 
wards they  have  a  pintado  of  silk  trailing  on  the  ground,  of  that 
colour  which  pleases  them  best.  They  manage  their  women  quite 
after  another  rate  than  the  Moluccans  do,  for  these  latter  will 
hardly  let  a  stranger  see  them,  whereas  the  former  are  so  far  from 
that  nicety  that  they  will  very  civilly  offer  a  traveller  a  bedfellow. 
And  as  they  are  thus  civil  and  hospitable  to  strangers,  so  they 
are  pleasant  and  sociable  amongst  themselves,  for  in  every 
village  they  have  a  public -house,  where  they  will  meet  and  bring 

1  Thomas  Stephens  was  educated  at  New  College,  Oxford,  and  went  to 
Goa  in  1579,  where  he  was  rector  of  the  Jesuits'  College  in  Salsette.  Hie 
letters  to  his  father  are  said  to  have  roused  great  enthusiasm  in  England  to 
trade  directly  with  India.  In  1583  three  English  merchants — Ralph  Fitch, 
James  Newberry,  and  Leedes — ^went  out  to  India  overland  as  private 
merchant  adventurers.  The  jealous  Portuguese  threw  them  into  prison  at 
Demuz,  and  again  at  Goa.  Later  on,  however,  Newberry  settled  down  at 
Goa  as  a  shopkeeper,  and  Leedes  entered  the  service  of  the  Great  Mogul, 
whilst  Fitch,  after  lengthy  and  protracted  journeys  in  Ceylon,  Bengal,  Pegu, 
Siam,  Malacca,  and  other  places  in  the  East  Indies,  returned  to  England 
through  Persia. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     165 

their  several  shares  of  provisions,  joining  all  their  forces  together 
in  one  great  feast  for  the  keeping  up  of  good  fellowship  amongst 
the  king's  subjects.  They  have  a  way  peculiar  to  themselves 
of  boiling  rice  :  they  put  it  in  an  earthern  pot,  which  is  of  a  conical 
figure,  open  at  the  greater  end,  and  perforated  all  over.  In  the 
meantime  they  provide  another  earthern  pot  full  of  boiling  water, 
into  which  they  put  this  perforated  vessel  with  the  rice,  which 
swelling  and  filling  the  holes  of  the  pot,  but  a  small  quantity  of 
water  can  enter.  By  this  sort  of  boiling  the  rice  is  brought  to 
a  very  firm  consistency,  and  at  last  is  caked  into  a  sort  of  bread, 
of  which  with  butter,  oil,  sugar  and  spices  they  make  several 
very  pleasant  kinds  of  food." 

The  journey  across  the  Indian  Ocean  was  in  May  and 
June,  and  when  they  arrived  at  the  Cape,  Drake  says  in  his 
log-book  that  they  found  with  pleasure  "  how  the  Portuguese 
had  abused  the  world  in  their  false  representations  of  the 
horrors  and  dangers  of  it." 

In  the  circumnavigation  of  the  globe  he  had  spent  two 
years  and  eleven  months,  leaving  Plymouth  on  the  5th 
November,  1577,  and  returning  on  the  26th  September, 
1580.  On  his  return  he  was  knighted,  and  Queen  Elizabeth 
visited  his  ship  at  Deptford,  where  the  shore  was  densely 
crowded  with  people  anxiously  waiting  to  see  it.  The 
Queen  was  received  with  befitting  honours  and  sump- 
tuously entertained  by  the  new  knight  on  his  hundred-ton 
vessel. 

Drake  was  thus  the  first  Englishman  to  open  intercourse 
between  England  and  the  East  Indies,  as  well  as  the  first 
Englishman  to  circumnavigate  the  globe. 

Second  English  Expedition  to  the  East  Indies. — After  this 
it  was  the  constant  policy  of  the  Queen  to  encourage  as  far 
as  possible  the  flame  of  public  spirit  in  men  of  family  and 
wealth.  Among  these  was  Thomas  Cavendish  (or  Candish  as 
he  sometimes  styled  himself),  of  Tremley  in  Suffolk,  esquire, 
a  gentleman  of  honourable  family  and  large  estate  (this 
latter  lying  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ipswich,  a  place  then 


166  JAVA 

doing  a  large  trade).  He  received  an  early  inclination  to 
go  to  sea,  and  decided  as  he  came  of  age  to  convert  part  of 
his  lands  into  money  and  go  out  to  see  the  world.  He 
equipped  a  stout  bark  called  the  Tiger,  of  120  tons  burden, 
in  which  he  accompanied  Sir  Eichard  Greenville  in  his 
voyage  to  Virginia  in  1585.  This  voyage  gave  him  an 
insight  into  some  of  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  the  sea, 
but  instead  of  damping  his  ardour  it  only  increased  it,  and 
as  soon  as  he  returned  he  decided  to  fit  out  a  squadron  to 
voyage  round  the  world,  and  whilst  this  was  getting  ready 
gained  all  the  information  he  possibly  could  from  men  who 
had  travelled  with  Drake. 

He  sailed  on  the  10th  July,  1586,  from  Plymouth,  his 
squadron  consisting  of  the  Desire  (140  tons),  the  Content 
(60  tons),  and  the  Hugh  Gallant  (40  tons),  all  supplied  at 
his  own  expense  with  provisions  for  two  years,  and  manned 
with  officers  and  men,  many  of  whom  had  served  under 
Drake  in  his  famous  voyage  and  so  w^ere  men  with  experi- 
ence. After  a  long  and  eventful  voyage  they  found  them- 
selves at  last  in  the  Straits  of  Bantam  on  the  1st  March, 
1587.  At  first  no  one  on  shore  w^ould  communicate  with 
them.  After  they  had  been  here  eleven  days,  nine  or  ten 
of  the  king's  canoes  laden  with  oxen,  hogs,  hens,  geese,  eggs, 
sugar,  cocoanuts,  plantains,  oranges,  lemons,  wine  and 
aqua  vitae  went  out  to  them,  and  two  Portuguese  came  on 
board,  who  gave  them  a  full  account  of  the  people  and  their 
customs.^ 

The  king,  they  learnt,  was  a  very  great  man,  with  one 
hundred  wives,  and  all  stood  in  awe  of  him.  Having  paid 
for  these  victuals  and  presenting  the  king  with  "  three 
great  pieces  of  ordnance "  for  his  courtesy.  Cavendish 
departed,  arriving  at  Plymouth,  in  England,  in  the  same 
quiet  way  in  which  he  departed,  on  the  9th  September, 
1588. 

1  The  account  is  given  later  in  the  chapter  "  Travellers'  Tales." 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     167 

Almost  immediately  the  Spanish  Government,  through 
their  ambassador,  apparently  a  crafty  fellow,  complained 
to  Queen  Elizabeth  that  reports  had  reached  them  of  Drake 
and  Cavendish  having  infringed  their  "  divine  rights  "  by 
sailing  round  the  globe.  Ehzabeth  haughtily  replied  that 
what  it  was  lawful  to  Spaniards  to  do  it  was  lawful  also  to 
Enghshmen,  "  since  the  sea  and  air  are  common  to  all  men." 
Thereupon  the  Spaniards  launched  against  England  the 
"  Invincible  Armada." 

This  Armada  was  met  by  the  British  fleet  mider  Sir 
Francis  Drake,  Lord  Howard  of  Effingham,  Lord  Thomas 
Howard,  Sir  John  Hawkins,  and  Sir  Martin  Frobisher,  with 
what  result  every  schoolboy  knows. 

They  were  scattered  in  all  directions.  Never  was  there 
such  a  thorough  downfall,  and  its  effects  were  far-reaching. 
Cavendish  was  in  due  course  knighted  when  his  report 
reached  the  Queen. 

At  the  "  White  Hart  "  inn,  Ptymouth,  a  collection  of 
burghers,  yeomen,  fisherfolk,  and  mariners  were  drinking 
and  chatting  over  their  ale,  jubilant  still  about  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Spanish  Armada,  which  gave  food  for  talk  for 
many  years,  when  in  came  a  man,  gaunt  and  weather- 
beaten,  and  ordered  ale  of  "mine  host"  in  tones  louder 
than  had  ever  before  been  heard  there.  He  then  demanded, 
in  still  louder  tones,  pen,  ink  and  paper,  and,  ensconcing 
himself  in  a  corner,  wrote  the  following  despatch  to  Lord 
Huns  don,  the  Lord  Chamberlain  : — 

"  To  THE  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Hunsdon,  etc. 

"  Right  Honourable, — As  your  favour  heretofore  hath  been 
most  greatly  extended  toward  me,  so  I  humbly  desire  a  continu- 
ance thereof,  and  though  there  be  no  means  in  me  to  deserve  the 
same,  yet  the  uttermost  of  my  services  shall  not  be  wanting 
whensoever  it  shall  please  your  Honour  to  dispose  thereof.  I  am 
humbly  to  desire  your  Honour  to  make  known  unto  Her  Majesty 
the  desire  I  have  had  to  do  Her  Majesty  ser\'ice  in  the  perform- 
ance of  this  voyage,  and  as  it  hath  pleased  God  to  give  her  the 


168  JAVA 

victory  over  part  of  her  enemies,  so  I  trust  ere  long  to  see  her 
overthrow  them  all.  For  the  places  of  their  wealth,  whereby 
they  have  maintained  and  made  their  wars,  are  now  perfectly 
discovered,  and  if  it  please  Her  Majesty,  with  a  very  small  power 
she  may  take  the  spoil  of  them  all.  It  hath  pleased  the  Almighty 
to  suffer  me  to  circumpass  all  the  whole  globe  of  the  world,  entering 
in  at  the  Streight  of  Magellan  and  returning  by  Ye  Cap  de  Buena 
Esperanca,  in  which  voyage  I  have  either  discovered,  or  brought 
certain  intelligence  of  all  the  rich  places  of  the  world,  that  ever 
were  known  or  discovered  by  any  Christian.  I  navigated  all 
along  ye  coast  of  Chile,  Peru,  Nuevo  Espana,  where  I  made  great 
spoils.  I  burnt  and  smik  nineteen  sail  of  ships,  small  and  great. 
All  the  towns  and  villages  I  ever  landed  at  I  burned  and  spoiled, 
and  had  I  not  been  discovered  on  ye  coast  I  had  taken  great 
quantity  of  treasure.  The  matter  of  most  profit  unto  me,  was 
a  great  ship  of  the  king's  which  I  took  at  California,  which  ship 
came  from  ye  Phihppines  being  one  of  the  richest  for  merchandise 
that  ever  passed  those  seas,  as  the  king's  register,  accounts, 
merchants  did  show.  From  ye  Cape  of  California,  I  navigated 
to  ye  islands  of  Ye  Philippines,  the  riches  and  stateliness  of  which 
country  I  fear  to  make  report  of,  lest  it  be  not  credited.  I  sailed 
along  ye  islands  of  Maluccus,  where  among  some  of  the  heathen 
people  I  was  well  intreated,  where  our  countrymen  may  have 
trade  as  freely  as  the  Portugals,  if  they  will  themselves.  From 
thence  I  passed  by  Ye  Cape  of  Buena  Esperanca  and  found 
out  by  the  way  homeward  Ye  Island  of  Saint  Helena,  and  from 
that  Island  God  suffered  me  to  return  unto  England.  All  of 
which  services  with  myself  I  humbly  prostrate  at  Her  Majesty's 
feet,  desiring  the  Almighty  long  to  continue  her  reign  among  us, 
for  at  this  day  she  is  the  most  famous  and  victorious  Prince 
that  liveth  in  the  world. 

"  Thus  humbly  demanding  pardon  for  my  tediousness  I  leave 
your  Lordship  to  the  tuition  of  the  Almighty. 

"  Your  Honour's  most  humble  to  command, 

"  Thomas  Candish. 

"  Plymouth  this  9th  of  September,  1588." 

This  done,  the  wild-looking  sailor  demanded  more  ale 
and  "  did  quaff  of  same  freely."  Before  long  in  the  inn 
and  its  portals,  far  into  the  street  beyond,  men  were  fighting 
to  hear  this  weather-beaten  stranger,  who  had  arrived  in  a 


JAVA'S    FIRST    EUROPEAN   VISITORS     169 

mere  cockle-shell  of  a  boat,  relate  stories  that  made  their 
mouths  water,  of  the  gold  and  riches  of  the  Indies,  China, 
and  the  Spice  Islands.  "Why,"  asked  he,  "should  ten 
thousand  Spanish  and  Portugal  galleons  go  forth  to  the 
Indies  laden  with  Peruvian  ingots  and  return  full  laden 
with  spices,  silks,  gold,  silver,  and  jewels  ?  Why  should 
these  papists  get  all  and  the  people  of  the  mightiest 
sovereign  in  the  world  nothing?  Let  us  set  forth,"  said 
he,  "and  clear  Philip's  ruthless  and  unscrupulous  ruffians 
from  the  Eastern  Seas."  The  invincible  navy  was  no  more. 
Now,  now,  was  the  time,  he  shouted. 

To  all  ports  and  harbours  in  the  kingdom  his  story 
went  forth,  down  the  Thames  from  London  Bridge  to 
Tilbury,  from  Plymouth  to  Portsmouth,  and  from  there  to 
Harwich. 

Owners  of  ships  were  now  chafing  under  the  threefold 
barrier  which  a  mean  policy  of  rapacity  on  the  part  of 
Philip  II.  of  Spain  had  set  up  to  obstruct  the  "  traffick  of 
England  with  Eastern  lands."  Queen  Elizabeth  must  be 
petitioned  to  remove  this. 

Third  English  Expedition  to  the  East  Indies. — Meantime  in 
1591  certain  merchant  adventurers  of  London  decided  to 
risk  sending  a  squadron  round  the  Cape  to  the  East  Indies, 
and  Captain  George  Raymond,  who  had  voyaged  with 
Cavendish,  was  placed  in  command,  the  fleet  consisting  of 
the  Penelope,  the  Merchant  Boyal,  and  the  Edward  Bon- 
adventure. 

The  departure  of  these  vessels  created  a  lively  commotion, 
not  only  among  the  mercantile  community  of  London,  but 
throughout  five  kingdoms.  To  the  Spaniards  and  Portu- 
guese, who  were  wildly  angry,  the  business  seemed  one  of 
offensive  effrontery.  Evil  was  predicted  from  France,  and 
the  Dutch  thought  the  venture  somewhat  bold. 

The  voyage  was  unfortunate  from  the  start.  At  the 
Cape  the  Merchant  Boyal  was  sent  back  full  of  sick  men 


170  JAVA 

from  the  three  ships,  and  in  a  storm  after  leaving  the  Cape 
the  Penelope,  with  Captain  Kaymond  on  board,  was  lost ; 
so  that  the  only  ship  which  reached  the  East  was  the 
Edward  Bonadventure,  under  Captain  James  Lancaster. 
At  Acheen  a  cargo  of  pepper  was  secured,  and  Lancaster 
returned  home,  battling  with  pirates,  scurvy,  and  hurri- 
canes, and  in  a  continual  dread  that  he  might  meet  any 
*'  Portugals."  After  passing  the  Cape  the  ship  was  swept 
by  tempestuous  seas  and  carried  right  up  to  Labrador.  At 
last,  after  trials  unknown,  the  ship,  with  gaping  timbers  and 
more  or  less  a  dismantled  wreck,  finally  reached  Plymouth, 
three  years  from  the  day  she  had  left. 

The  Dutch,  with  their  customary  patience  and  their  slow 
but  sure  methods,  w^hich  are  a  characteristic  of  this  fine  and 
noble  nation,  had  been  meantime  slowly  taking  note  of  all 
these  voyages,  and  it  came  home  to  them  that  whilst  perhaps 
the  Spanish  could  do  what  they  could  not,  they  themselves 
could  do  as  much  as  the  English.  If  the  English  could  make 
voyages  to  the  East  Indies,  so  could  their  seamen,  and  they 
were  right.  They  first  set  about  getting  all  the  information 
they  could,  and  if  possible  securing  the  services  of  under- 
seamen,  or  pilots,  who  had  served  Drake  and  Cavendish, 
and  the  information  obtained  from  these  men  was  such  that 
by  degrees  the  merchants  of  Amsterdam  began  to  think  an 
Indian  expedition  practicable,  and  to  be  willing  to  run  the 
hazard  of  such  an  undertaking  on  account  of  the  prospects 
that  opened  of  prodigious  profits.  After  further  mature 
consideration  a  company  was  formed  by  Henry  Hudden, 
Beinier,  Pauw,  Peter  Haffelaar,  John  Jans,  Charles  de  Oude, 
John  Poppen,  Henry  Buyck,  Dirck  van  Os,  Syvert  Peirersz 
Seem  and  Arrenten  Grootenhuise. 

At  the  first  meeting  it  was  decided  to  despatch  without 
delay  four  vessels  to  the  Indies  by  way  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  under  the  command  of  Cornelius  Houtman,  who  had 
just  returned  from  Portugal,  where  at  the  risk  of  his  life  he 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     171 

had  been  gleaning  all  the  mformation  he  could  about  the 
East. 

First  Dutch  Expedition  to  the  East  Indies. — On  the 
2nd  April,  1595,  the  shipping  at  the  Texel  was  all  decorated, 
and  to  the  sound  of  artillery  and  the  cheering  of  the  Dutch 
folk  four  ships  sailed  out.  The  Mauritius  was  400  tons 
(John  Molecate,  master,  with  Cornelius  Houtman  as  agent, 
or  supercargo,  on  board),  and  was  armed  with  six  large 
brass  cannon  and  fourteen  small  pieces  and  manned  with  a 
crew  of  eighty-four  ;  the  Hollandia  was  400  tons  (John 
Digmums,  master),  had  six  large  and  fourteen  small  brass 
carmon,  and  was  mamied  with  a  crew  of  eighty-four  ;  the 
Amsterdam  was  200  tons  (Schiltinger,  master),  and  armed 
with  six  pieces  of  brass  guns  and  ten  other  little  ones,  and 
manned  with  a  crew  of  fifty-nine  ;  the  Dufke  was  a  small 
ship  of  50  tons,  armed  with  "  two  pieces  of  brass  cannon 
and  six  little  cannons,"  and  manned  by  a  crew  of  twenty- 
four.  They  were  bound  for  the  East  Indies,  and  this  fleet 
was  to  lay  the  foundation  of  that  matchless  Eastern  empire 
which  to-day  is  the  most  precious  gem  in  the  Netherlands 
crown.  The  manning  of  the  fleet  was  no  difficult  matter, 
and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  crews  were  made  up  of 
a  number  of  rough  and  disorderly  young  men,  regular 
*'  ne'er-do-wells,"  sons  of  respectable,  rich  parents,  wanting 
less  in  courage,  boldness,  and  strength  of  mind  than  in  love 
of  disciphne  and  duty,  whose  absence  from  home  was 
apparently  more  desirable  than  their  presence  there. 

Cornelius  Houtman  had  a  difficult  task,  and  he  performed 
it  well,  and  these  young  men,  once  it  was  thoroughly  im- 
pressed upon  them  that  the  honour  of  their  country  was  at 
stake,  proved  the  mainstay  of  the  expedition. 

The  fleet  had  now  sailed  on  its  momentous  voyage,  and 
one  of  the  most  glorious  chapters  in  the  history  of  the  Dutch 
had  been  opened.  Sir  Thomas  Cavendish's  words,  "  Now, 
now,  is  the  time,"  had  passed  unheeded,  and  the  Enghsh 


172  JAVA 

were  too  late — a  state  of  affairs  which  reminds  one  of  the 
old  adage,  "  The  more  haste,  the  less  speed." 

The  Dutch  had  started  long  after  the  Portuguese,  and 
later  than  the  Enghsh,  to  the  East,  but  they  had  had  an 
advantage  which  the  English  had  not,  namely,  that  their 
knowledge  of  the  East  was  already  greater,  owing  to  their 
early  established  trade  with  India,  through  Lisbon,  so  that 
the  details  of  the  business,  and  what  was  required  by  the 
natives,  were  thoroughly  well  known  to  them,  and  they 
became  not  only  first  in  the  field  for  trade,  but  entirely 
outstripped  the  Enghsh  in  their  geographical  discoveries 
during  the  seventeenth  century. 

Houtman's  voyage  was  long  and  weary.  Gales  and  hurri- 
canes pursued  them  ;  scurvy  decimated  the  crews.  Still 
they  battled  on  ;  the  name  of  Holland  was  at  stake,  and 
the  grit  of  the  nation  was  put  to  the  test.  Well  it  came  out, 
too,  for  although  they  and  the  ships  were  all  in  a  deplorable 
condition,  they  hung  on  like  bulldogs. 

At  Madagascar  the  fleet  stopped  to  recruit,  and  then 
sailed  for  the  Maldive  Islands. 

On  the  1st  January,  1596,  Sumatra  was  sighted,  and  in 
February  they  were  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda.  Here  they 
managed  to  pick  up  natives  who  piloted  them  to  Bantam, 
where  they  arrived  on  the  23rd  June.  The  harbour  was 
full  of  junks  and  praos,^  a  strange  sight  to  these  travellers, 
who  were  greatly  impressed  by  it.  They  felt  they  had  done 
something  unique  in  reaching  the  Indies,  and  their  feeling 
of  importance  swelled,  especially  on  the  arrival  in  the  evening 
of  six  Portuguese,  who  came,  they  said,  at  the  request  of 
the  king  to  inquire  what  they  wanted. 

The  Portuguese,  finding  the  Dutch  only  wished  to  trade, 
and  not  to  conquer,  became  very  polite,  and  gave  all  the 
particulars  Houtman  required.  They  told  him  all  about 
Sir  Thomas  Cavendish's  visit,  also  about  Captain  James 

1  Tambangans,  small  vessels,  lighters,  ^1160:168  or  sampans. 


n 


Sai  '■■ilHIJl,.  i!:    ,.J!'  -i|l:S:>M, 


JAVA'S   FIRST    EUROPEAN    VISITORS     173 

Lancaster's  voyage  to  the  Straits  of  Malacca  and  the  havoc 
he  had  wrought  amongst  the  Portuguese  shipping  with  only 
one  crank  little  ship.  Next  day  the  Portuguese  sent  off 
cattle,  hogs,  sheep,  hens,  onions,  garhc,  nuts,  and  all  kinds 
of  spices  such  as  cloves,  nutmegs  and  mace,  and  large  stores 
of  frankincense,  camphor,  diamonds,  copper,  iron,  pewter, 
sulphur,  pepper,  and  gum  benjamin :  Houtman  was 
consequently  greatly  elated. 

On  the  30th  June  Cornelius  Houtman  had  the  long-boat 
got  ready,  and,  dressed  in  his  finest,  made  his  official  call 
on  the  king  or  governor  and  touched  upon  the  small  matter 
of  a  contract.  The  governor  was  suave  and  polite  and 
offered  coffee  and  sweetmeats,  but  was  in  no  mood  to  discuss 
a  contract.  Houtman  returned  to  the  ship  disappointed, 
but  not  disheartened,  and  the  1st  July  again  proceeded  on 
shore  and  called  upon  the  governor,  "  vrho  sat  with  his 
council." 

First  Commercial  Treaty  between  the  King  of  Bantam  and 
the  Dutch. — He  was  again  civilly  received,  and  after  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  protestation  by  him  as  to  the  innocence 
of  his  visit,  the  king,  who  had  a  mind  to  trade  in  the  velvet 
and  scarlet  cloth  they  had  on  board — of  which,  as  a  sample, 
a  present  had  already  been  received  by  him — eventually 
allowed  Houtman  to  depart  with  the  contract  or  treaty  in 
his  pocket  duly  signed  and  sealed.  The  governor,  in 
dismissing  him,  said,  "  Go  now  and  buy  what  you  will  in 
our  market,  jon  have  free  liberty,"  and  Houtman,  chucklmg 
to  himself,  returned  to  his  ship.  The  governor  now  having 
a  mind  to  see  the  Dutch  ships,  sent  his  shahhandar  (port 
officer)  on  board  to  prepare  the  wa3^  This  personage  ex- 
plained the  greatness  of  the  governor  and  the  honour  he  was 
doing  the  Dutch  nation  by  his  visit,  it  being  the  first  of  its 
kind  he  had  ever  performed. 

The  governor  was  received  b}^  Houtman  at  the  foot  of  the 
ladder  and  shown  all  over  the  ship  ;  he  admired  the  cannon, 


174  JAVA 

and  especially  the  green  velvet  which  was  shown  him,  a 
piece  of  which  he  took  away.  When  he  left  the  Dutch  gave 
him  a  royal  salute,  which  at  first  frightened  him,  but  after- 
wards delighted  him  when  he  found  he  had  suffered  no 
injury.  The  airs  and  graces  the  visitors  now  gave  them- 
selves were  absurd.  Houtman  styled  himself  '*  Captain- 
Major,"  ^  and  he  went  into  the  town  with  his  men  gorgeously 
apparelled  in  silk  and  satin,  and  with  rapiers  at  their  sides. 
The  captain-major,  as  was  the  custom  with  the  emperor,  had 
a  slave  carrying  a  large  Chinese  ''  payung''  (umbrella)  over 
his  head  when  he  walked  to  the  market,  in  order  to  shade 
his  head  from  the  sun,  and  that  all  might  know  of  his  great- 
ness ;  another  slave  walked  before  him  with  a  trumpet  and 
another  with  a  gong,  which  they  were  continually  sounding. 
At  all  this  display  the  king  was  annoyed,  but  on  the  people 
it  had  a  great  effect  and  assured  them  of  the  importance  of 
the  Dutch.  The  Portuguese  were,  however,  incensed  at  the 
favour  being  shown  to  the  Dutch,  and  while  they  were 
pretending  to  give  them  their  support,  proofs  were  not 
wanting  that  they  were  all  the  time  falsely  intriguing  against 
them. 

The  Portuguese,  finding  ordinary  speech  in  vain,  tempted 
the  king  with  a  bribe  of  four  thousand  pieces-of-eight  if  he 
would  only  get  his  natives  to  destroy  all  the  Dutchmen 
and  place  their  ships  in  the  hands  of  the  Portuguese.  News, 
however,  reached  the  Dutch  about  what  was  being  contem- 
plated, and  they  took  the  necessary  precautions  against  an 
attack.  The  king,  on  the  advice  of  the  Portuguese,  prepared 
now  a  large  banquet  to  w^hich  Houtman  and  all  his  officers 
were  invited.  It  was  to  be  a  feast  of  great  rejoicing,  with 
much  music  and  dancing.  The  Portuguese  were  not  to  be 
invited.  The  trap  was  cleverly  laid,  but  the  Dutch  were 
far  too  wide  awake  to  be  caught.  They  sent  a  messenger 
to  the  king  to  inform  him  that  they  were  quite  prepared  for 

1  Clerks  on  board  styled  themselves  "  Captain." 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN    VISITORS     175 

his  attack  when  he  was  ready  to  make  it,  and  advised  him 
not  to  believe  the  odious  reports  circulated  by  the  Portu- 
guese, as  they  were  peaceful  traders  and  unlike  the  English 
pirates  and  marauders/  The  king  was  surprised  at  this 
message,  and  at  once  disclaimed  any  hostile  intentions  and 
renewed  his  invitation  for  the  feast.  The  Dutch,  however, 
declined  it.  The  Portuguese  still  continued  to  pour  all 
sorts  of  stories  in  the  king's  ears,  and  these  became  at  last 
so  dreadful  that  he  began  to  fear  for  his  kingdom.  An  inci- 
dent that  occurred  at  this  moment,  which  was  naturally  by 
the  enemies  of  the  Dutch  made  the  most  of,  was  the  little 
Dufke  coming  into  the  river  and  taking  soundings.  Hout- 
man,  moreover,  continued  his  unnecessary  braggadocio  and 
show,  and  in  spite  of  warnings  went  ashore  one  day  with 
seven  of  his  seamen.  The  whole  party  was  immediately 
arrested.  The  governor  sent  a  message  now  to  the  rest  of 
the  Dutchmen  to  go  on  trading  as  no  harm  would  come  to 
them,  and  a  few  days  later  sent  one  of  the  imprisoned 
Dutchmen  on  board  the  Mauritius,  accompanied  by  an 
interpreter  and  nine  slaves,  to  say  he  would  soon  free 
Houtman,  who  was  in  prison  for  having  used  violent 
language.  The  Dutch,  however,  not  trusting  the  governor, 
seized  the  interpreter  and  the  nine  slaves  and  placed  them 
in  chains.  On  hearing  this  the  governor  was  very  angry, 
and  sent  a  message  that  if  they  were  not  instantly  let  loose 
Houtman  and  the  other  Dutchmen  would  be  put  to  death. 
The  interpreter  was  immediately  released. 

On  the  4th  September,  Houtman  being  still  in  prison,  a 
council  was  held  on  the  Mauritius,  and  it  was  decided  to 
send  a  letter  to .  the  governor  demanding  the  prisoners' 
release,  and  threatening  reprisals.  As  no  reply  was  received, 
the  following  day  at  noon  all  the  ships  moved  in  close  to 
the  town.     When  they  had  drawn  as  near  as  they  could,  the 

^  Captain  James  Lancaster  destroyed  also  some  Javan  shipping  in  the 
Straits  of  Malacca. 


176  JAVA 

pinnaces  were  manned  and  sent  out  to  seize  three  junkB 
lying  there.  Two  were  taken,  the  Portuguese  slaves  on 
board  asking  for  quarter,  but  the  third  junk  was  set  on  fire 
by  the  Portuguese  to  prevent  the  Dutch  becoming  masters 
of  her. 

This  action  nearly  cost  Houtman  and  the  other  Dutchmen 
their  lives,  and  they  sent  a  message  to  the  Mauritius  begging 
them  to  desist,  otherwise  they  would  be  killed  by  "being 
tied  to  stakes  and  shot  through  with  arrows,"  or  else  "  be 
blown  from  the  mouths  of  cannon,  neither  of  which  deaths 
they  desired."  At  last  the  prisoners  were  ransomed  and 
peace  made  with  the  governor.  It  did  not  last  long,  how- 
ever, for  the  Portuguese  soon  stirred  up  more  trouble,  and 
finally  the  Dutch  were  forbidden  to  trade  any  longer  at 
Bantam. 

They  sailed  in  November  for  Kakatra,  arriving  there  on 
the  13th  of  that  month.  The  king  made  a  visit  on  board, 
and  went  away  well  satisfied.  Afterwards  the  fleet  sailed 
down  the  coast  in  sight  of  Tuban  and  Sedayo  until  it  reached 
Joartam  ^ ;  here  the  natives  tried  to  cut  them  off.  Li  the 
fight  that  took  place  one  hundred  and  fifty  natives  were 
killed  and  twelve  Dutchmen. 

The  fleet  now  steered  for  Madura,  where  the  king  came  off 
to  pay  an  official  call,  but  the  Dutch  not  understanding,  and 
fearing  an  attack,  fired  and  killed  the  king. 

They  now  considered  the  question  of  returning,  having 
abandoned  the  Amsterdam,  which  was  leaking  and  nearly 
sinking,  and  after  a  visit  to  Bah,  which  they  reached  on  the 
26th  February,  1597,  they  turned  homewards. 

On  the  10th  August  the  coast  of  Holland  was  sighted,  and 
the  following  day  the  Mauritius  sailed  to  Texel,  being 
followed  three  days  later  by  the  Amsterdam.  The  ships 
had  returned,  but  the  crews  were  utterly  exhausted  and 
were  so  weak  that  they  could  scarcely  furl  sail. 

^  Yortan. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     177 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  Mauritius  and  the 
Amsterdam,  which  had  been  given  up  for  lost,  had  returned, 
the  nation  rejoiced  from  end  to  end,  and  great  was  the 
sensation  caused  in  the  mercantile  circles  of  Amsterdam. 
The  shrewd  and  calculating  merchants  saw  at  once  that  the 
whole  trade  of  the  East  Indies  was  at  their  disposal,  and 
could  no  longer  be  monopolised  by  the  crafty  Spaniards 
and  the  Portuguese.  At  once  preparations  were  made  by 
the  old  Company  for  following  up  their  successes.  Mean- 
time, however,  another  group  of  merchants  in  Amsterdam 
had  decided  to  equip  a  fleet  for  the  East,  but,  like  wise  men, 
the  two  Companies  amalgamated.  The  Dutchmen  knew  the 
proverbs  that  *'  time  was  money  "  and  "  unity  was  strength," 
which  their  English  neighbours  had  still  to  learn.  The 
names  of  the  new  group  of  merchants  were  Vincent  von 
Broucherst,  Simon  Jansz,  Covert  Dirrickz,  Cornelius  vo7i 
Camjpen,  Jacob  TJiomasz,  Elbert  Simonz  Jencheyn,  and  John 
Harmansz. 

The  inhabitants  of  Bantam  were  described  by  the  home- 
comers  as  a  very  cleanly  race,  washing  five  or  six  times  a 
day.  The  trade  was  said  to  be  chiefly  carried  on  by  the 
Chinese,  who  arrived  yearly  in  nine  junks  with  porcelain, 
silks,  damasks,  gold  thread,  and  iron  pans,  returning  with 
pepper,  cloves,  mace,  and  other  merchandise. 

Some  of  these  Chinese  remained  for  a  year  selling  the 
goods,  returning  when  the  next  season  for  the  junks  to 
arrive  came  round.  In  that  case  they  bought  themselves  a 
wife,  or  two  or  more,  selling  them  again  when  leaving. 
From  the  account  given  of  Houtman's  stay  at  Bantam,  it 
may  be  noted  that  "  from  Sumatra  the  natives  said  the 
Egyptian  King  Solomon  got  his  gold  wherewith  he  beautified 
the  Temple  and  his  palace,  and  in  the  Bible  was  called 
Orphuz,  and  also  his  spices  were  fetched  from  Banda  by 
his  ships." 

Sumatra,  of  course,  it  is  known,  has  been  visited  from 

J. — VOL.   I.  N 


178  JAVA 

time  immemorial  by  strangers  in  search  of  gold,  silver,  and 
other  metals. 

"  The  women  of  the  town,  at  this  period  were  well  kept  from 
the  men  who  were  Jews.  The  rich  men  kept  many  who  lay  all 
day  long  without  anything  on  chewing  a  nut  called  betel,  their 
slaves  around  them,  continually  rubbing  them.^  The  concubines 
wait  on  the  married  women.  The  women  of  the  rich  especially 
are  very  idle  and  do  nothing  all  the  day,  except  lie  down,  the 
slaves  doing  all  the  drudgery.  The  rich  men  also  sit  all  day  long 
upon  mats,  and  chew  betel,  having  ten  or  twenty  women,  accord- 
ing to  their  purse,  about  them." 

Jacatra  (Old  Batavia)  when  the  Dutch  visited  it  would 
seem  to  be  almost  of  as  much  importance  as  Bantam  (it  was 
sometimes  called  Sunda  Calapa).  It  had  about  three 
thousand  houses  at  least,  built  fairly  closely  together. 
These  were  surrounded  by  high  palisades  of  bamboo.  The 
city  was  estabhshed  on  both  sides  of  the  great  river.  It  w^as 
said  of  Jacatra  when  it  was  described,  "  Faith,  this  is  ye 
principal  town  of  traffik  in  these  parts." 

The  money  that  was  used  at  this  time  in  the  exchange  of 
Bantam  %vas  apparently  chiefly  copper  : — 

"  Their  copper  money  cometh  out  of  China,  and  is  almost  as 
great  and  heavy  as  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  and  somewhat  thicker, 
and  in  the  middle  having  a  square  hole.  Two  thousand  of 
them  are  worth  a  rial  of  eight,  but  of  these  there  are  not  over- 
many.  They  used  to  hang  them  upon  strings,  and  pay  them, 
without  telling,  for  they  stand  not  so  narrowly  upon  the 
number,  for  if  they  want  but  twenty -five  or  fifty  it  is  as  nothmg. 
There  is  also  leaden  money  of  bad  lead  and  very  rough  ;  it  hath 
in  its  middle  a  square  hole.  They  are  hanged  by  two  hundred 
upon  a  string.  They  are  commonly  ten,  eleven  or  twelve  thousand 
to  a  rial  of  eight  ;  of  these  cometh  a  great  quantity  out  of  China, 
where  they  are  made,  so  that  there  is  a  plenty  or  scarcity,  and 
they  rise  and  fall  in  value." 

Second  Dutch  Expedition  to  the  East  Indies. — The  fleet 

1  The  native  'pijit  or  massage. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     179 

that  was  despatched  by  the  new  Company  consisted  of  six 
ships  and  two  yachts,  manned  by  five  hundred  and  sixty 
seamen  and  commanded  by  James  CorneHs  van  Neck,  of 
Amsterdam.     It  sailed  from  Texel  on  the  1st  May,  1598. 

Whilst  off  the  coast  of  Africa  they  encountered  one  of 
those  terrible  storms  for  which  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  is 
noted  ;  the  ships  were  consequently  dispersed  in  all  direc- 
tions. They  all,  however,  reached  Bantam.  A  good  trade 
was  done  at  once.  Notwithstanding  the  endeavours  of 
the  Portuguese,  who  continued  their  sly  and  underhand 
practices,  no  trouble  occurred,  and  the  inhabitants  began 
to  find  they  had  to  do  with  real  merchants,  who  paid 
liberally  (or  seemed  to)  for  all  they  received  and  only 
desired  to  trade. 

Four  of  the  big  ships  returned  to  Texel  on  the  19th  June, 
1599.  The  other  two  and  the  yachts  continued  their 
voyage  to  the  Spice  Islands,  and  underwent  many  adven- 
tures off  the  island  of  Madura,  when  a  treacherous  attack 
was  made  upon  them  and  a  whole  boat's  crew  carried  off  as 
prisoners.  After  several  unsuccessful  attempts  to  rescue 
the  unfortunate  prisoners  they  were  ransomed. 

At  Amboina  they  were  cordially  welcomed,  the  inhabi- 
tants looking  upon  them  as  benefactors  who  would  release 
them  from  the  cruelties  and  tyranny  of  the  Spaniards  and 
Portuguese. 

In  August,  1599,  they  returned  to  Bantam,  where  there 
lay  in  the  road  two  Portuguese  barks. 

Arrangements  were  now  made  for  erecting  a  factory, 
although  nothing  further  was  done,  and  after  presents  to 
the  governor  they  sailed  on  the  15th  January,  1600,  and 
arrived  in  Holland  safely,  Tsdth,  however,  only  half  their 
crews,  the  rest  having  died  of  scurvy. 

In  the  meantime  other  fleets  were  got  ready  one  after  the 
other,  the  Dutch  merchants  being  determined  to  sweep  the 
Portuguese  out  of  the  Eastern  Seas. 

N  2 


180  JAVA 

The  anger  and  consternation  amongst  the  Portuguese  and 
Spaniards  was  considerable,  and  in  January,  1601,  the 
latter,  seeing  their  power  gradually  slipping  away,  sent  a 
fleet  of  thirty  men-of-war  to  cut  off  some  Dutch  ships  then 
sailing  to  the  East.  They  attacked  the  Dutch  squadron  of 
eight  ships  and  were  badly  beaten,  some  Portuguese  ships 
richly  laden  from  the  East  being  seized  and  brought  to 
Holland.  The  two  Latin  nations  now  found  they  had  a 
foe  worthy  of  their  steel  which  had  best  be  left  alone. 

The  great  number  of  Dutch  companies  which  were  now 
formed  created  a  lot  of  trouble.  Ships  were  despatched  to 
the  same  ports,  and  the  Amsterdam  merchants  found  they 
were  frequently  competing  against  themselves  ;  the  prices 
of  their  own  goods  were  lowered  in  Eastern  ports,  whilst  the 
prices  of  Eastern  produce  were  unnecessarily  raised. 

The  States-General,  hearing  of  this,  called  a  meeting  at 
The  Hague  of  the  directors  of  all  the  companies,  both  of 
Holland  and  Zealand,  and  compelled  them  to  unite  into  one 
body  for  future  ventures  "  to  w^hich  their  mightinesses 
joined  their  consent  and  their  authority." 

The  treaty  then  agreed  upon  was  confirmed  by  a  patent 
from  the  sovereign  poAver  for  twenty-one  years,  beginning 
from  the  20th  March,  1602. 

The  patent  being  issued,  the  Company  became  very 
important  and  made  a  joint  stock  of  6,600,000  livres. 

With  this  sum  they  promised  themselves  great  things, 
and  fitted  out  a  fleet  of  fourteen  large  ships  which  sailed 
in  June.  Two  of  these  ships  went  to  China  and  two  to  the^ 
Moluccas-;  the  rest  cruised  to  various  ports.  The  Dutch 
were  now  on  the  road  to  success,  and  richly  they  deserved 
it  ;  for  with  all  their  slowness,  once  a  matter  is  decided, 
immediate  action  follows.  Just  so  was  it  in  the  case  of  the 
trade  to  the  East  :  once  they  had  made  up  their  minds  that 
it  could  be  done,  they  rushed  fleet  after  fleet  to  the  East 
without  a  stop.     If  to-day  they  are  the  masters  in  the  East 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     181 

Indian  Archipelago  they  liave  only  themselves  to  thank 
for  it ;  and  a  finer  and  a  more  honest  body  of  merchants  is 
to  be  found  nowhere  else  in  the  world. 

The  British,  with  their  usual  lethargy,  had  meanwhile 
been  dozing,  but  hearing  now  of  the  successes  of  the  Dutch, 
they  decided  that  if  they  wished  any  share  in  the  good 
things  of  the  East  they  must  be  up  and  doing. 

Charter  oj  the  English  East  India  Company. — The  mer- 
chants of  London  applied  to  Queen  Elizabeth  for  a  charter, 
which  was  granted  them  on  the  31st  December,  1600.  By 
this  charter  she  created  them  a  body  corporate,  with  the 
style  of  "Ye  Governor  and  Company  of  Merchants  of 
London  trading  to  ye  East  Indies,"  and  "  granted  "  the 
charter  "  under  common  seal." 

It  appointed  Thomas  Smyth,  Esquire,  Alderman  of 
London,  to  be  their  first  governor,  and  established  a  court 
of  twenty  directors  to  be  chosen  annually  on  the  1st  July, 
or  within  six  days  thereafter.  The  Queen  likewise  granted 
them  authority  to  make  by-laws,  allowed  them  to  export 
goods  custom  free  for  four  years,  and  allowed  them  to 
export  £30,000  in  foreign  coin,  with  licence  to  do  the  same 
every  voyage  provided  they  brought  that  sum  by  their 
trade  out  of  foreign  countries  into  this  kingdom. 

This  charter  was  exclusive,  and  the  Queen  bound  herself 
not  to  grant  any  charter  to  other  merchants  for  the  space 
of  fifteen  years  ;  but  with  this  proviso,  that  if  within  this 
space  this  charter  should  appear  to  be  in  any  respect 
detrimental  to  the  public,  it  should  upon  two  years'  warning 
under  the  Privy  Seal  become  void.  If,  however,  from 
experience  it  should  appear  that  this  new  Corporation  was  a 
pubhc  benefit,  tlien  she  promised  to  renew  this  charter,  with 
such  additional  clauses  in  their  favour  as  should  appear 
requisite.  As  soon  as  this  charter  was  signed  the  Company 
began  to  raise  a  joint  stock  for  carrying  the  project  into 
execution,  and  this  with  such  energy  that  in  a  very  short 


182  JAVA 

space  of  time  they  managed  to  collect  £72,000,  on  the 
strength  of  which  it  was  decided  to  fit  out  five  ships  to  trade 
with  the  East  Indies. 

The  ships  were — the  Red  Dragon,  600  tons  (flagship)  ; 
the  Hector,  300  tons  (Captain  Christopher  Colthurst)  ;  the 
Susanah,  200  tons  (Captain  WilHam  Keeling  ^)  ;  the 
Ascension,  200  tons  (Captain  Brand  Eoger  Styles,  factor)  ; 
the  Guest,  130  tons  (which  acted  as  store-ship). 

The  complement  of  men  in  these  ships  was  four  hundred 
and  eighty,  and  the  expense  of  equipping  them  £45,000, 
while  the  cargo  they  carried  cost  £27,000. 

The  fleet,  which  was  under  the  command  of  Captain 
James  Lancaster,  who  received  the  title  of  Admiral,  sailed 
from  Torbay  on  the  2nd  May,  1601,  arriving  at  Acheen  in 
November,  1602.  Here  they  found  seventeen  ships — 
Spanish,  Portuguese,  Dutch,  Indian,  and  Chinese,  from 
Guzerat,  Cahcut,  Malabar,  and  Pegu — all  on  the  same 
mission  as  themselves.  The  jealousy  that  arose  was  great, 
and  the  King  of  Acheen  had  to  listen  to  many  stories  which 
each  nation  told  of  the  others.  Lancaster,  endeavouring  to 
hold  himself  above  all  this,  called  in  full  naval  uniform, 
with  his  suite,  on  the  king,  by  whom  he  was  greeted  very 
cordially.  The  letter  from  Queen  Elizabeth  and  the  presents 
were  duly  handed  to  him  ;  these  comprised  a  belt,  a  case  of 
pistols,  some  plumes,  looking-glasses,  platters,  spoons  and 
glass  toys,  besides  a  pair  of  spectacles  and  an  ewer  of  silver. 
The  Company  had  made  no  mistake  when  they  believed  a 
few  presents  to  be  likely  to  carry  far  more  weight  in  the 
counsels  of  the  king  than  the  Queen's  letter,  for  they  proved 
irresistible.  The  captain  was  immediately  given  the  privi- 
lege he  sought  for,  namely,  freedom  of  trade  and  immunity 
from  the  payment  of  customs.^ 

'  The  discoverer  of  the  Cocos-Keeling  Islands,  in  the  Indian  Ocean. 
*  Lancaster   also   established   commercial   relations  with   Priaman,   in 
Sumatra,  a  pepper  centre. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN    VISITORS     183 

Commercial  Treaty  between  the  King  'of  Acheen  and  the 
English. — Lancaster,  however,  was  not  yet  satisfied,  and 
when  he  returned  to  his  ship,  with  the  assistance  of  his 
senior  officers  he  drew  up  on  a  double  sheet  of  parchment  a 
portentous  treaty,  which  they  afterwards  translated  into 
Portuguese  and  prevailed  upon  the  king  to  sign.  A  copy 
of  this  instrument  is  at  the  India  Office,  and  is  the  first 
treaty  between  a  native  prince  and  the  East  India  Company 
and  the  earliest  document  received  from  any  servant  of  the 
Company  m  the  East.     It  reads  as  follows  : — 

**  I  most  mighty  King  of  Acheen  and  Sumatra,  to  all  persons 
that  shall  read  this  present  writing,  greeting. 
'*  In  token  of  our  special  friendship,  and  upon  many  good 
considerations  us  moving,  and  chiefly  upon  the  contem- 
plating of  the  gracious  letters  received  from  the  famous 
Queen  of  England,  we  of  our  especial  mere  motion  do  signify 
and  declare  to  all  people  that  we  have  entertained  into  our 
friendship  and  holy  league  our  well -beloved  Sirinissima 
Reina  de  Inglaterra  to  hold  and  keep  true  and  faithful 
league  with  her  according  to  the  commendable  course  and 
law  of  all  nations,  unto  whose  subjects  we  wish  much 
felicity,  and  therefore  doth  give  and  grant  by  these  presents, 
for  us  our  heirs  and  successors,  as  much  as  in  us  lieth  to  the 
said  subjects  of  the  most  noble  Queen  of  England  our 
confederate  and  every  one  of  them  these  articles,  grants  and 
privileges  hereafter  expressed  and  declared." 

Lancaster  waited  here  three  months  without  securing 
any  pepper,  and,  getting  at  last  impatient,  he  sailed  away, 
leaving  two  factors,  Wilham  Starkey  and  Styles,  behind 
him  to  collect  produce  for  the  Company. 

Before  his  departure  the  admiral  "  went  to  Court  once 
more,"  where  he  had  a  long  final  conference. 

"  The  king  presented  him  with  a  ring  set  with  a  very  fine  ruby, 
and  three  pieces  of  rich  cloth  of  gold  as  a  present  to  Her  Majesty 


184  JAVA 

Queen  Elizabeth.  He  likewise  presented  the  admiral  with  a 
ruby  ring  for  himself,  and  when  he  was  about  to  take  his  leave,  he 
asked  him  if  the  Enghsh  had  the  Psalms  of  David  amongst 
them  ;  to  which  the  admiral  repHed  that  they  had  and  sung  them 
daily.  Then  said  the  king,  '  I  and  the  nobles  will  sing  a  psalm 
to  God  for  your  prosperity,'  which  being  finished,  the  king  asked 
the  admiral  and  his  attendants  to  sing  another  psalm,  though  it 
were  in  their  own  language,  and  they  instantly  complied  with 
the  request.  This  being  done,  the  admiral  took  his  leave,  and 
the  king  at  parting  said,  '  I  hope  God  will  bless  you  all  your 
voyage  and  conduct  you  safe  to  your  own  country,  and  if  here- 
after your  ships  return  to  this  port,  you  shall  find  the  same  good 
usage  you  have  hitherto  experienced.'  " 

Lancaster  left  Acheen  on  the  9th  November,  and  meeting 
a  Portuguese  ship  of  900  tons  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca, 
battered  her  to  pieces  first  and  then  from  her  bulging  hold 
hauled  forth  cloves  and  pepper.  The  ship  was  on  her  way 
from  the  Moluccas  to  the  Portuguese  settlement  of  St. 
Thome,  near  Madraspatam,  where  the  Company  had  built  a 
fort  for  the  protection  of  their  produce  from  the  Dutch. 
Lancaster  now  returned  to  Acheen,  where  he  found  that 
Styles  and  Starkey  (or  Starckey)  had  collected  sufficient 
cargo  to  fill  one  ship  ;  this  was  put  into  the  Ascension. 
Lancaster  now  took  leave  again  of  the  King  of  Acheen, 
receiving  from  him  a  letter  to  his  "  Cousin  Elizabeth,  Queen 
of  England,  France  and  Ireland,"  together  with  several 
presents.  These  were  given  to  Captain  Brand,  of  the 
Ascension,  together  with  letters  and  reports  from  the 
admiral,  on  receipt  of  which  the  Ascension  sailed  for 
England.^  A  short  time  afterwards  the  Susanah,  also  full 
of  produce,  was  despatched  to  England. 

Island  of  Pulo  Bun,  in  the  Moluccas,  ceded  to  the  English. — 
Meanwhile  the  Guest,  which  had  been  sent  to  the  Moluccas, 
obtained  the  Island  of  Pulo  Kun  ^  Treaty,  thus  carrying  out 

1  Her  cargo  consisted  of  210,000  lbs.  of  pepper,  1,100  lbs.  of  cloves, 
6,000  lbs.  of  cinnamon,  4,080  lbs.  of  gum-lacquer. 

2  In  the  Moluccas. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN    VISITORS     185 

the  admiral's  instructions  to  plant  the  British  flag  securely 
in  these  islands. 

As  soon  as  the  Ascension  had  sailed,  Lancaster,  with  the 
Dragon  and  the  Hector,  proceeded  to  Bantam,  where  they 
arrived  on  the  16th  December,  1602,  and  as  they  entered 
the  roads  "  shot  off  such  a  thundering  peal  of  ordnance  as 
had  never  been  lung  there  before." 

Lancaster  brought  the  King  of  Bantam  a  letter  from 
Queen  Ehzabeth  and  many  presents,  and  was  received 
more  as  the  princely  ambassador  of  a  great  monarch 
than  as  the  representative  of  a  mercantile  trading  com- 
pany. 

First  Commercial  Treaty  between  the  King  of  Bantam  and 
the  English. — After  his  interview  or  "  audience  "  he  was 
granted  similar  conditions  to  those  he  had  obtained  at 
Acheen,  which  amomited  to  permission  being  given  to 
trade,  and  this  in  spite  of  the  protests  of  the  Dutch. 

First  English  Factory  opened  in  Java. — A  factory,  or 
*'  house  of  trade,"  was  opened  at  Bantam  and  the  cargo  on 
board  the  ships  landed.  By  the  10th  February,  1603,  the 
ships  Avere  all  reloaded  for  the  return  journey. 

When  Lancaster  left  Bantam  on  the  21st  February,  1603, 
he  left  behind  him  a  factory  under  the  charge  of  William 
Starkey,  as  head  agent,  with  three  factors  and  eight  clerks, 
as  also  a  pinnace  to  go  backwards  and  forwards  to  the 
Moluccas,  under  command  of  Thomas  Tudde  (or  Tudd)  with 
thirteen  men. 

First  Dutch  Factory  opened  in  Java. — As  a  result  of  this 
example  the  Dutch  opened  a  factory  at  Bantam  in  October, 
1603.^  The  founder  was  Admiral  Wybrand  van  Warwyck, 
who  had  arrived  with  a  fleet  on  the  19th  April,  1603,  at 
Bantam.  He  placed  in  charge  as  factor  Frans  Wittert, 
with  nine  clerks,  and  gave  him  a  liberal  capital  to  work 
with.     The  building  was  of  stone  on  a  piece  of  ground 

1  J.  Hageman,  "  De  Engelsohen  op  Java." 


186  JAVA 

bought  by  the  Dutch,  and  was  situated  in  the  western  part 
of  the  town. 

The  natives  soon  preferred  deahng  with  the  EngHsh  to 
the  Dutch,  as  the  former's  methods  were  generally  more 
hberal.  The  prices,  however,  were  little  enough  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  for  pepper  fetched  less  than  a  fortieth  of  the  price 
given  in  London. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  commercial  competition  between 
the  two  nations,  and  of  a  long  story  of  jealousy  and  intrigue 
which  was  to  go  on  for  an  interminable  period.  Added  to 
this,  things  never  went  well  with  the  English  in  Bantam, 
and  there  were  immense  disadvantages  to  their  lucrative 
trade.  For  instance,  whether  from  diet  or  disease,  poison 
or  fighting,  scarcely  a  day  elapsed  without  one  of  the  Com- 
pany's servants  dying — a  matter  of  serious  consequence 
among  so  small  a  community. 

February,  1603. — When  Lancaster  arrived  in  London, 
despite  the  prevailing  depression  caused  by  the  plague, 
which  had  accounted  for  at  least  two  of  the  directors  of 
the  East  India  Company,  he  received  a  most  flattering 
and  enthusiastic  welcome.  He  was  also  called  to  Court  and 
knighted. 

The  Company  had  done  well,  having  so  far  received  in  all 
more  than  a  million  pounds  of  spices. 

In  the  East  the  Dutch  and  English,  who  were  doing  their 
utmost  to  displace  the  Portuguese,  who  were  scarcely  ever 
a  match  for  them,  kept  a  jealous  eye  on  each  other.  There 
were  continual  quarrels  and  bickerings  over  petty  trading 
matters,  both  being  desirous  of  gaining  the  monopoly  of  the 
pepper  and  spice  markets.  The  English  maintained  they 
had  a  greater  right  to  it  than  the  Dutch,  inasmuch  as  Drake 
had  planted  the  British  flag  in  the  Moluccas  in  1578  and  in 
Bantam  in  1579,  which  acts  had  been  confirmed  and 
repeated  by  Cavendish  in  1587.  The  Dutch,  however,  from 
their  point  of  view  maintained  the  greater  right  was  theirs 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     187 

on  account  of  the  fact  that  in  1596  CorneHus  Houtman, 
with  a  royal  charter  in  his  pocket,  not  only  planted  the  flag 
in  Bantam,  but  erected  factories  in  the  Moluccas — this  being 
quite  a  different  thing  to  actions  of  the  half-pirates  ^  sailing 
round  the  world  under  the  British  flag  ;  they  also  pointed 
out  that  Lancaster,  who  was  the  first  Englishman  who 
actually  sailed  under  a  charter  from  the  sovereign,  did  not 
erect  factories  at  Acheen  and  Bantam  until  1602-3,  or  six 
years  after  Houtman  already  had  a  treaty  in  his  pocket, 
which  would  have  empowered  him  to  do  so  had  he  wished. 
It  can  thus  be  easily  seen  that  the  elements  were  there  for 
strife  from  the  beginning,  and  at  a  time  when  these  old  sea- 
dogs  led  rough  lives,  amused  themselves  in  a  rough  manner 
and  died  rough  deaths,  every  opportunity  was  taken  by  the 
individual  members  of  the  two  nations  to  make  it  as  un- 
pleasant as  they  possibly  could  for  one  another. 

This  state  of  things  continued  until  1611,  matters  going' 
from  bad  to  worse,  until  at  last  the  English,  getting  rather 
the  worst  of  it,  complained  to  the  Foreign  Secretary  in 
England,  who  in  turn  brought  the  question  over  to  The 
Hague,  where  diplomacy  with  its  devious  channels  gradually 
smoothed  matters  over. 

The  Enghsh  were  also  having  trouble  in  India  with  the 
Portuguese,  who  were  doing  their  utmost  to  hinder  their 
trade.  They  were  therefore  to  all  intents  and  purposes  at 
war  with  the  Dutch  in  the  East  Indies  and  with  the  Portu- 
guese in  India. 

The  work  was  too  great  for  them — the  Company  had  not 
the  means  to  undertake  it.  Their  trade  was  bound  in  the 
end  to  suffer  somewhere,  and  so  it  did. 

In  1611  Captain  Thomas  Best,  in  command  of  the  Dragon, 
with  three  other  ships  mider  him,  sailed  for  Surat,  where  he 
arrived  in  six  months.  Here  he  built  a  factory  and  began 
to  trade.    He  had  hardly,  however,  settled  down  before 

1  Drake  and  Cavendish. 


188  JAVA 

the  viceroy  at  Goa  sent  a  fleet  to  destroy  him.  It  consisted 
of  four  large  galleons  and  twenty-six  galleys,  in  which  there 
were  five  thousand  men  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  cannon. 
The  Portuguese  fleet  was,  howevei,  fortunately  beaten  off, 
and  the  factory  with  all  its  valuables  saved. 

The  Enghsh  now  thought  that  some  sort  of  an  arrange- 
ment with  the  Dutch  Company  would  be  advisable  ;  but 
after  a  lot  of  parleying  nothing  very  substantial  was  gained 
by  either  side,  the  Enghsh  Company  not  feeling  itself 
justified  in  accepting  the  conditions  offered  by  the  Dutch, 
which  they  characterised  as  "  giving  too  little,  and  asking 
too  much."^  All  questions  or  disputes  on  both  sides  were, 
however,  laid  bare,  and  it  was  confidently  asserted  and 
imagined  that  things  could  now  go  on  harmoniously  between 
the  two  nations,  and  that  an  end  had  been  put  to  all  the 
disputes  between  the  two  Companies  for  twenty  years  at 
least.  It  fell  out,  however,  quite  otherwise,  for  shortly  after 
this  the  Dutch  Company's  factor  in  the  East  Indies,  who 
was  now  styled  Governor-General  and  lived  at  Batavia  as 
headquarters,  attacked  Lantore  with  a  large  fleet,  and, 
having  defeated  the  natives,  fired  the  town,  plundered  the 
English  factory  which  had  been  established  there,  taking 
away  the  cloth,  money,  and  bullion  belonging  to  the  English 
East  India  Company,  together  with  23,000  lbs.  of  mace  and 
150,000  lbs.  of  nutmegs.  The  Enghsh  factors  that  were 
living  there  were  stripped  naked,  bound  and  beaten,  thrown 
over  the  town  wall,  and  afterwards  dragged  through  the 
city  in  chains.  The  English  factory  at  Pulo  Kun  shared  the 
same  fate.  The  Dutch,  of  course,  had  their  side  of  the  story 
when  representations  were  made  at  The  Hague,  but  the  facts 
remained.  Proper  satisfaction  for  this  seems  never  to  have 
been  demanded  by  the  British  Government. 

The  foregoing  troubles  at  Lantore  were,  however,  as 
nothing  to  what  was  to  follow  at  Amboyna  in  1622. 

1  This  is  the  origin  of  the  famous  phrase. 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     189 

At  Amboyna  the  English  Company  had  five  factories  for 
the  collection  of  cloves  ;  the  chief  one  was  at  Amboyna 
itself,  whilst  the  others  were  at  various  points  not  far  away. 
The  governor  was  a  certain  George  Muschamp,^  who  was 
later  replaced  by  Gabriel  Towerson,  who  had  been  factor  at 
Bantam.^  He  has  been  described  as  a  good-natured,  in- 
cautious, but  reliable  servant,  indolent,  possibly,  and  fond 
of  pomp — a  thing  which  seems  inseparable  from  a  long 
residence  in  the  Indies,  but  was  probably  accentuated  in 
Towerson's  case  owing  to  his  marriage  with  a  native,  who, 
he  said,  had  royal  blood  in  her  veins.  The  Dutch  had  also 
a  factory  and  a  fort  here,  armed  with  six  large  cannon  and 
very  strongly  built.  For  two  years  the  Dutch  and  Enghsh 
bore  with  each  other,  and  although  disputes  continually 
occurred,  the  governor  at  Batavia  generally  smoothed 
matters  over.  Affairs,  however,  at  last  reached  boiling 
point  ;  differences  not  only  continued  but  were  daily 
occurrences,  and  the  governor  at  Batavia  began  treating 
them,  possibly  from  their  very  tediousness,  with  more 
indifference,  until  on  the  11th  February,  1622,  a  Japanese 
soldier  in  the  castle  at  Amboyna  asked  the  sentinel  what  was 
the  strength  of  the  fort  and  how  many  Dutchmen  there 
were  in  it.  The  Dutch  being  apprehensive  and  suspicious 
of  these  questions,  seized  the,  Japanese  as  soon  as  they 
heard  of  the  matter  and  tortured  him  on  the  rack  for  three 
or  four  days.  At  the  same  time  an  Englishman  named 
Abel  Price,  the  chirurgeon,  was  lying  in  the  Dutch  prison 
for  threatening  when  drunk  to  set  a  Dutchman's  house  on 
fire.  This  man  they  brought  to  the  Japanese,  and  stated 
that  he  had  confessed  whilst  under  torture  that  the  English 
had  intended  seizing  the  castle  and  had  asked  his  assistance. 
At  the  same  time  they  informed  Price  that  unless  he  likewise 
confessed  he  would  also  be  tortured  as  badly  as  the  Japanese 

1  See  Chapter  XII.,  "  Batavia." 
«  See  Chapter  XII.,  "  Bantam." 


190  JAVA 

had  been,  if  not  worse.  At  first  he  dechned  to  do  so,  but 
under  the  rack  he  admitted  the  truth  of  the  statements  of 
the  Japanese.  The  following  day  the  Dutch  sent  for 
Towerson  and  the  rest  of  the  Englishmen,  who,  they  in- 
formed them,  were  accused  of  being  guilty  of  conspiring  to 
surprise  the  castle.  On  their  appearing  before  the  governor 
they  were  all  seized,  Gabriel  Towerson  being  committed  to 
prison  under  a  strong  guard,  whilst  Emmanuel  Thomson  was 
placed  in  a  dungeon  ;  the  others,  John  Beaumont,  Edward 
Collins,  William  Webber,  Ephraim  Ramsey,  Timothy  John- 
son, John  Fardo,  and  Robert  Broivn,  were  sent  on  board  the 
Dutch  ships  lying  in  the  harbour.  The  same  day  the 
governor  gave  orders  for  the  apprehension  of  the  rest  of  the 
Englishmen  in  the  outlying  factories  —  namely,  Samuel 
Colson,  John  Clark,  and  George  Sharrock,  who  were  at  the 
factory  at  Hitto ;  John  Sadler,  from  Larica ;  John  Pocol, 
John  Wetheral,  and  Thomas  Ladbrook,  from  Cambello  ;  and 
William  Griggs  (who  was  brought  in  irons),  from  Lobo. 

These  Englishmen,  a  mere  handful,  were  supposed  to  be 
planning  for  the  capture  of  the  fortress  held  by  two  hundred 
soldiers  and  twenty-four  guns.  Towerson  rightly  said  it 
was  ridiculous. 

Timothy  Jolinson  was  now  the  first  to  be  tortured  ;  he 
acknowledged  nothing,  because  there  was  nothing  to 
acknowledge.  Red-hot  irons,  however,  apphed  to  the  soles 
of  his  feet  did  what  was  needed,  and  he  was  then  racked  for 
having  refused  evidence  at  first ;  under  this  torture  he 
acknowledged  everything  that  was  suggested  to  him. 

The  Dutch  governor  van  Speult,  a  man  of  a  bad  type  and 
weak  character,  now  had  the  matter  conducted  from  its 
legal  side  and  in  strict  conformity  with  the  law.  The  pubhc 
prosecutor,  or  Dutch  "  fiscal,"  who  made  a  notarial  account 
of  all  the  proceedings,  was  an  unscrupulous  coadjutor  to  his 
master,  and  was  as  wax  in  his  hands. 

Johnson,  after  having  been  cruelly  burnt  and  racked, 


JAVA'S   FIRST    EUROPEAN    VISITORS     191 

was  followed  by  Thomson,  who  was  treated  likewise,  despite 
his  grey  hairs.  The  "  fiscal  "  made  minutes  of  all  that  the 
prisoners  confessed. 

Beaumont  was  now  tortured  with  the  water  ordeal,  a 
most  diabohcal  and  inhuman  proceeding.  The  victim  was 
made  fast  and  stretched  out,  a  cloth  tied  round  his  neck, 
and  jars  of  water  were  poured  into  the  cloth,  the  result 
being  the  same  as  drowning.  WiUiam  Webber,  Edward 
Collins,  Ephraim  Eamsey,  and  Robert  Brown  were  now 
brought  from  the  ship  Rotterdam,  which  lay  in  the  roads, 
and  at  the  same  time  Samuel  Colson,  William  Griggs,  John 
Clark,  George  Sharrock,  and  John  Sadler  had  to  undergo 
their  turn  at  the  rack  and  water  torture.  Collins  when 
confronted,  seeing  his  companions  yelling  in  agony,  asked 
the  '*  fiscal,"  "  What  would  you  have  me  to  say  ?  Tell  me, 
and  though  it  be  false,  yet  will  I  speak." 

The  "  fiscal  "  was  in  a  rage,  and  answering,  "  You  mock 
me,"  he  gave  orders  to  rack  him  to  the  utmost.  When 
almost  expiring  under  the  torture  he  acknowledged  that 
Towerson  was  the  ringleader,  and  gave  all  the  details  as  to 
how  the  plot  was  to  have  been  carried  out ;  with  his  eyes 
bulging  out  of  his  head  and  all  reason  gone,  he  was  taken 
away. 

The  next  were  tortured  first  with  fire,  then  with  water, 
and  finally  racked.  They  were  hoisted  up  by  the  hands 
with  a  cord  on  a  large  door,  where  they  were  made  fast  upon 
two  staples  of  iron  fixed  on  both  sides  at  the  top  of  the  door- 
posts ;  their  arms  and  legs,  which  were  two  feet  from  the 
ground,  were  stretched  to  the  utmost  ;  the  cloth  was  then 
bound  round  their  neck  and  face  very  tightly  and  kept 
filled  with  water.  When  they  swooned  or  fainted  they  were 
taken  down,  and  after  a  few  minutes  to  recover  they  were 
hoisted  up  again.  After  this  had  been  done  many  times 
the  bodies  of  some  were  swollen  twice  their  ordinary  size  ; 
their  cheeks  were  like  bladders,  and  their  eyes  bulged  out  of 


192  JAVA 

their  heads.  Still  the  majority  stood  it  without  confessing 
anything,  until  they  burnt  the  soles  of  their  feet  'with 
candles,  sometimes  doing  it  several  times,  and  their  elbows, 
the  palms  of  their  hands,  and  their  armpits. 

At  last  it  came  to  Towerson's  turn,  and  on  oath  he 
declared  there  was  absolutely  no  truth  in  the  reports  as  to 
a  plot  against  the  Dutch.  Thereupon  they  brought  several 
of  those  who  had  confessed  before  him,  and  he  charged  them 
as  they  would  answer  at  the  dreadful  Day  of  Judgment  to 
speak  nothing  but  the  truth.  These  rough  men  fell  upon 
their  knees  before  him,  praying  for  God's  sake  to  be  forgiven 
for  whatever  they  had  formerly  confessed,  which  was  mostly 
false  and  uttered  only  to  avoid  further  torment.  These 
men  were  therefore  once  more  tortured,  and  in  the  end 
again  admitted  that  their  former  statements  were  corrects 
When  Colson  was  told  to  sign  what  he  confessed  he  inquired 
of  the  "  fiscal  "  upon  whose  head  he  thought  the  sin  would 
lie,  whether  upon  him  who  was  forced  to  confess  what  was 
false  or  upon  him  who  forced  it. 

Thus  far  Towerson  in  virtue  of  his  position  had  been 
spared  the  pain  and  ignominy  of  the  torture  chamber  and 
he  had  been  merely  condemned  to  death. 

Van  Speult  was,  however,  not  satisfied,  and  he  decided  he 
must  make  a  confession  ;  he  was  taken  to  the  torture 
chamber,  and  two  large  jars  of  water  were  seen  to  follow 
him  ;  those  who  saw  this  shuddered.  What  Towerson  went 
through  and  suffered  no  one  will  ever  know.  He  was 
carried  out  with  drawn  and  Hvid  features,  his  whole  appear- 
ance ghastly  ;  but  he  had  confessed.  Eight  days  were 
occupied  in  this  work  of  torture,  and  the  whole  air  reeked 
with  an  unbearable  smell  of  burnt  flesh.  On  the  ninth  day 
(February  23rd),  when  human  nature  could  stand  no  more, 
a  surgeon  was  allowed  to  go  round  and  dress  the  sores.  The 
poor  victims  were  in  a  dreadful  state  ;  some  of  the  wounds 
were  putrefied  and  had  maggots  in  them,  and  from  Clark 


KAMMENU    PAN(iKKA5.    AKIU    TJOKKO    XAGERU.       (lIELTKNANT-C'OLOXEL    I.N    THK 
CAVALRY  ;    UFFIt'ER    IN    THE    ORANGE    NASSAU    ORDER.) 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN   VISITORS     193 

and  one  or  two  of  the  others  it  is  said  "  great  maggots 
dropped  from  them  in  most  noisome  and  loathsome  manner." 

On  the  28th  February,  the  day  of  execution,  the  cruel 
gaolers  allowed  lots  to  be  drawn  for  one  life  ;  it  fell  to 
Collins.  Beaumont  was  also  respited,  being  a  particular 
friend  of  the  Dutchmen  ;  Sharrock,  too,  was  pardoned. 

The  execution  was  duly  carried  out,  "  a  cloth  of  black 
velvet,"  we  are  told,  by  the  special  consideration  of  the 
governor,  being  prepared  for  Towerson's  body  to  fall  on, 
but  we  also  learn  that  this  being  now  "  spoiled  and  unsale- 
able "  was  charged  to  the  Enghsh  Company.  With  the 
English  one  Portuguese,  Augustin  Perez,  and  about  eleven 
Japanese  also  suffered  death. 

Before  the  execution  it  would  appear  as  if  all  the  victims 
endeavoured  to  leave  some  record  of  their  innocence,  but 
only  a  few  succeeded.  Colson  wrote  in  the  flyleaf  of  his 
prayer-book,  which  was  sewed  up  in  a  bed  : — 

"  Aboard  the  Rotterdam  lying  in  the  roads  of  Amboyna  in 
irons. 

"  Understand  that  I,  Samuel  Colson,  the  late  factor  of  Hitto, 
was  apprehended  for  suspicion  of  conspiracy,  and  for  anything 
I  know  must  die  of  it ;  wherefore  having  no  better  means  to 
make  my  innocence  known,  have  writ  this  in  this  book,  hoping 
some  good  Englishman  will  see  it.  I  do  here  swear  upon  my 
salvation,  as  I  hope  by  His  death  and  passion  to  have  redemption 
for  my  sinnes,  that  I  am  clean  of  all  such  conspiracy,  neither 
do  I  know  any  EngUshman  guilty  thereof,  nor  other  creature  in 
the  world.     As  this  is  true,  God  bless  me.     Samuel  Colson." 

Ha  also  wrote  at  the  beginning  of  the  Psalms  : — 

"  The  JapOTiers  were  taken  with  some  villainy,  and  being 
most  tyrannousry  tortured,  were  asked  if  the  English  had  any 
hand  in  the  plot,  which  torture  made  them  say  Yes,  then  was 
master  Thomson  and  Mr.  Johnson,  IVIr.  Collins,  John  Clark,  brought 
to  execution,  and  were  burned  under  the  armpits,  and  hands, 
and  soles  of  the  feet,  with  another  most  miserable  torment  to 
drink  water,  some  of  them  almost  tortured  to  death,  and  were 
J. — VOL.  I.  e 


194  JAVA 

forced  to  confess  that  which  they  never  knew,  by  reason  of  the 
torment  which  flesh  and  blood  is  unable  to  endure.  Then  were 
the  rest  of  the  EngUshmen  called  one  by  one  amongst  which  I 
was  one,  being  wished  to  confess,  or  else  I  must  go  to  torment, 
withal  caused  Mr.  Johnson  who  was  before  tormented,  to  witness 
against  me,  or  else  he  should  be  tortured  again,  which  rather  than 
he  should  endure,  he  said  what  they  would  have  him  speak. 
Then  must  I  confess  I  never  knew,  or  else  go  to  torment  which 
rather  than  I  would  suffer  I  did  confess  that  which,  as  I  shall 
be  saved  before  God  Almighty  is  not  true,  being  forced  for  fear 
of  torment.  Then  did  they  make  us  witness  against  Captain 
Towerson,  and  last  made  Captain  Towerson  confess  all,  being 
for  fear  of  most  cruel  torment  for  which  we  must  all  die.  As 
I  mean  and  hope  to  have  pardon  for  my  sins,  I  know  no  more 
than  the  child  unborn  of  this  business  written  with  my  own 
hand.     Sam.  Colson." 

William  Griggs,  who  had  befoie  accused  Captain  Tower- 
son, wrote  the  following  words  in  his  table-book  : — 

"  We  whose  names  are  here  specified,  John  Beaumont, 
William  Griggs,  Abel  Price,  Robert  Brown,  which  do  here 
He  prisoners  in  the  Rotterdam,  being  apprehended  for  conspiracy 
for  blowing  up  the  castle  of  Amboyna,  we  being  judged  to  death, 
which  we  through  torment  were  constrained  to  speak  that 
which  we  never  meant,  nor  once  imagined,  the  which  we  take 
upon  our  deaths  and  salvation.  They  tortured  us  with  that 
extreme  torment  of  fire  and  water  that  fiesh  and  blood  could  not 
endure,  and  this  we  take  upon  our  deaths  that  they  have  put 
us  to  death  guiltless  of  our  accusation,  so  therefore  that  we  desire 
that  they  shall  understand  this  that  our  employers  may  under- 
stand these  wrongs,  and  that  yourselves  would  have  a  care  to 
look  to  yourselves,  for  their  intent  was  to  have  brought  you  in 
also,  they  asked  concerning  you,  which  if  they  had  tortured  us, 
we  must  have  confessed  you  also,  and  farewell,  written  in  the 
dark." 

By  the  natives  this  execution  was  supposed  to  be  a  great 
triumph  for  the  Dutch  over  the  English,  whose  standing  in 
the  Moluccas  was  now  ruined. 

A  very  long  account  of  these  transactions  was  made  by 


JAVA'S   FIRST   EUROPEAN    VISITORS     195 

van  Speult  and  his  rascally  **  fiscal  "  (who  undoubtedly 
really  did  think  the  Englishmen  were  plotting  against 
them)  to  his  superiors  at  Batavia,  but  there  does  not  appear 
to  be  any  mention  of  torture  in  it.  Latei  on  it  was  reluc- 
tantly admitted  that  "  torture  of  a  civil  sort  had  been  used." 

But  the  rack,  the  burning  with  hot  irons,  the  water  ordeal, 
the  splitting  of  the  toes,  and  lancing  of  the  breast,  and 
putting  in  gunpowder  and  then  firing  it,  all  these  can  hardly 
come  under  a  category  of  *'  a  civil  sort,"  and  indeed  did  not. 
The  official  deed  was  signed  by  Harman  van  Speult,  Laurence 
de  Maerschalk,  Clement  Herffeboom,  Harman  Crayvauger, 
Peter  van  Zanten,  Leonard  Clock. 

When  the  story  of  this  massacre  reached  London  the 
indignation  of  the  people  was  great,  and  the  King  is  sup- 
posed to  have  openly  wept.  Representations  were  made  at 
The  Hague  again  and  again,  but  nothing  very  much  was 
done,  and  reparation  was  never  given.  Some  Dutch  ships 
were  seized  and  brought  to  Portsmouth,  but  though  the 
King  threatened  war,  the  Dutch  knew  he  was  in  no  position 
to  can^  out  his  threats  as  the  public  revenue  was  depressed. 
Even  van  Speult,  although  he  was  apparently  removed,  went 
unpunished,  but  the  arch-villain  met  a  violent  death  later 
on,  when  one  of  the  largest  Dutch  ships  of  forty-four  guns 
on  which  he  happened  to  be  ran  aground  at  Mocha,  in  the 
Red  Sea,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Arabs,  who  showed 
no  mercy.     Thus  the  matter  ended. 

If  it  was  thought  that  the  Englishmen  now,  after  all  these 
remonstrances,  would  receive  a  little  more  consideration  at 
the  hands  of  the  Dutch,  a  great  mistake  was  made  ;  if 
possible,  matters  grew  worse.  The  Company's  servants 
were  ill-treated  and  abused  everywhere,  and  were  gradually 
crushed,  so  to  say,  out  of  existence  in  China,  Japan,  Siam, 
and  Cambodia,  while  the  situation  of  the  Company  in  Java 
and  Sumatra,  and  even  in  India,  was  far  from  happy. 

The  truth  is  that  the  Dutch  were  taking  matters  more 

o  2 


196  JAVA 

seriously,  more  earnestly,  and  more  energetically  than  the 
English,  and  moreover  were  being  supported  by  their 
Government,  which  desired  the  monopoly  of  the  East. 

Can  we  blame  them  if  they  made  things  unpleasant  for 
their  competitors  ? 

The  Dutch  were  in  point  of  fact  doing  in  the  East  Indies 
what  the  English  themselves  wished  to  do — that  is  to  say, 
ousting  their  neighbours. 

It  was  a  life-and-death  struggle,  in  which  the  Dutch  were 
victorious,  and  this  was  entirely  due  to  the  Dutch  estabUsh- 
ment  in  the  East  and  their  fleets  at  all  the  principal  stations 
being  invariably  greater  than  those  of  the  English. 

The  breach,  of  course,  between  the  two  nations  as  time 
went  on  became  greater,  and  the  weaker  merchants  had  to 
give  way. 


THE    DUTCH  PERIOD 


CHAPTER   V 

THE    RISE    OF    THE    DUTCH   POWER    IN    THE    EAST 

Notwithstanding  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Sultan 
of  Jacatra^  to  prevent  them,  the  Dutch  opened  their  trading 
house  here  in  1610.  It  was  very  soon  discovered,  however, 
that  the  natives,  who  were  a  mixture  of  Malays  with  a 
strain  of  Chinese,  Arabian,  and  Hindu  blood,  were  of  a 
treacherous  character,  so  that  a  fort  was  built  as  a  place  oil 
refuge.  This  was  in  1612,  and  on  the  strength  of  it  the 
factor,  Jan  Pieterzoon  Coen,  who  saw  the  strategical 
advantages  of  Jacatra,  recommended  his  being  granted  the 
high-sounding  titular  dignity  of  Director-General. 

From  this  day  Jacatra  became  the  real  seat  of  the  Dutch 
Government  in  the  East  Indies,  although  Amboyna  was 
nominally  still  so,  as  it  had  been  for  many  years  already. 
According  to  old  records  the  Enghsh  flag  was  first  shown  at 
Jacatra  by  Sir  Henry  Middleton  in  1604,  and  again  when 
Captain  William  Keehng,  of  Cocos -Keeling  Island  fame, 
visited  the  town  on  the  8th  January  and  the  20th  August, 
1609,  and  sold  gunpowder  to  the  king. 

In  1610  the  Enghsh  "  house  of  trade,"  or  factory,  was 
opened  by  Captain  David  Middleton  with  a  staff  from 
Bantam.  Some  think  it  was  opened  by  Captain  William 
Keeling  on  his  second  visit  to  this  port  in  1609.  Be  that  as 
it  may,  it  seems  fairly  certain  that  it  was  established  at 
Jacatra  before  the  Dutch  built  theirs. 

The  factories  of  the  Dutch  and  English  almost  faced  each 

1  Jacatra,  until  the  fall  of  Pajajaran,  formed  part  of  that  kingdom. 
Afterwards  it  came  under  the  influence  of  the  Sultan  of  Cheribon,  and  later 
of  Matarem. 


200  JAVA 

other,  the  former,  it  is  said,  being  on  the  east  side  of  the 
"  great  river  "  and  the  latter  on  the  west  side.^ 

As  might  have  been  expected,  servants  of  the  two  nations 
were  not  long  in  falhng  out  with  each  other,  and  continued 
trouble  was  the  order  of  the  day.  The  Dutch  seeing  it 
coming,  fortified  themselves  also  on  the  island  of  Ourust, 
in  the  roads  of  Jacatra,  in  spite  of  a  protest  from  the  Sultan 
of  Bantam,  to  whom  the  island  belonged. 

On  the  22nd  October,  1618,  the  Dutch  began  the  erection 
of  a  still  stronger  and  larger  fort  at  Jacatra  commanding 
the  water  passage,  which  was  completed  within  a  year. 
The  Enghsh  seeing  this,  determined  not  to  be  left  behind, 
and,  despite  a  protest  from  Coen,  hurriedly  built  a  fort  for 
themselves  with  the  help  of  natives. 

The  Dutch  fort  was  no  sooner  ready  than  Coen  attacked 
the  English  with  a  large  force,  demolishing  their  fort  and 
destroying  their  factory.  As  a  punishment  for  this  a  large 
English  squadron  which  was  at  Bantam  sailed  for  Jacatra 
as  soon  as  they  heard  of  the  catastrophe  and  destroyed 
nearly  the  entire  Dutch  squadron  lying  there.  Coen, 
rather  ashamed  of  himself  no  doubt,  fled  in  a  ship  to  the 
Moluccas,  leaving  Jacatra,  over  which  he  had  just  been 
appointed  governor-general,  to  look  after  itself. 

When  the  English  ships  withdrew  and  affairs  once  more 
resumed  their  normal  aspect,  the  place  was  baptised  by  the 
Dutch  Batavia  on  the  12th  March,  1619,  and  Coen  on  his 
return  from  the  Moluccas  on  the  28th  March  decided  it 
should  be  the  capital  of  the  Dutch  East  Indies  and  the  head- 
quarters of  the  East  India  Company. 

The  English  were  now  theoretically  under  his  jurisdiction, 
although  they  were  left  as  much  alone  as  was  possible. 

The  first  thing  Coen  now  did  was  to  attack  the  sultan  and 
properly  defeat  him,  after  which  the  foundation  of  the  '*  gem 

1  Exactly  where  they  stood  is  described  in  Chapter  XII.,  "  Towns  in 
Java,"  Batavia. 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     201 

of  the  East  "  was  laid  and  preparations  made  for  housing  a 
large  army  and  carrying  on  gi'eat  trade. 

The  aim  of  the  Dutch  was  in  the  main  pm'ely  commercial, 
and  it  was  many  years,  therefore,  before  proper  law  and 
order  reigned  in  this  far-off  country.  Their  power,  however, 
gi'ew  rapidly,  and  the  stronger  they  became  the  more  diffi- 
cult it  grew  for  the  Enghsh  Company,  who  finally  held  a 
position  of  mere  toleration. 

As  soon  as  the  Dutch  were  firmly  estabhshed  and  could 
dispose  of  large  and  strong  fleets,  together  with  a  sufficient 
proportion  of  fighting  men,  they  made  ready  for  further 
conquests  in  other  Eastern  lands,  v^ith  Bantam  as  the 
starting  point.  The  methods  of  the  Dutch  were  always 
slow  but  sure,  but  an  abundance  of  energy  and  a  quite 
remarkable  amount  of  forethought  in  all  they  undertook, 
besides  their  readiness  and  ^villingness  to  settle  for  life  in 
any  new  colony,  made  them  more  than  a  match  for  the 
roving  English,  whom  they  apparently  outwitted  and  out- 
numbered everywhere. 

A  rapid  glance  at  the  history  of  the  Dutch  civilisation  of 
the  East  will  perhaps  not  be  altogether  out  of  place  before 
the  story  of  Java  is  continued. 

Dutch  Colony  of  Formosa  (1624— 1664).— In  1624  the 
Dutch  captured  a  large  part  of  Formosa,  and  their  first 
measure  was  to  form  a  colony  here  and  build  defences.  A 
fort  was  thrown  up  on  a  sand-bank  at  the  entrance  of  the 
harbour  of  Tanvan  (Tanvanfoo),  which  was  after  four  years 
replaced  by  "  Fort  Zeelandia,"  a  very  large  and  substantial 
structure.  Besides  this  they  had  a  stone  fort  kno^vTi  as 
"  Utrecht "  quite  close,  on  a  hill  commanding  Fort  Zeelandia. 
Another  fort  was  built  later  not  far  off  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Formosa  river,  which  they  called  "  Fort  Provintia  "  ;  the 
bricks  for  these  forts  were  brought  from  Batavia.  The 
Dutch  at  once  sought  for  friendly  relations  with  the  savage 
tribes  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  by  their  just  and  fair 


202  JAVA 

treatment,  which  was  different  from  what  these  had  been 
accustomed  to  from  the  despised  Chinese,  they  were  soon 
enabled  to  gain  their  full  confidence  and  affection  ;  Jthe_ 
Chinese  and  Japanese  merchants  who  were,  there 'already 
began,  however,  to  feel  the  trade  which  they  had  mono- 
polised for  years  anything  but  secure,  and  trouble  soon 
ensued,  especially  when  the  Dutchmen  put  an  export  duty 
on  sugar  and  rice,  the  two  staple  articles  even  at  that  early 
date.     The  Japanese  complained  to  the  court  at  Yedo,  who 
in  turn  annoyed  the  Dutchmen  at  their  factory  at  Nagasaki. 
Still   the   Dutchmen,   nothing   daunted,   rushed   along   as 
usual  at  a  pace  no  other  nation  could  keep  up  with,  intent 
only  on  obtaining  the  maximum  of  financial  gains  in  the 
shortest  time  possible.     They  exported  as  much  as  80,000 
piculs  of  sugar  to  Japan  in  1627,  silk  piece-goods,  porcelain, 
and  gold  to  Batavia ;    and  they  imported  into  Formosa 
paper,  spices,  amber,  tin,  lead,  and  cotton.     In  addition, 
Formosa  products,  such  as  rice,  sugar,  rattans,  deer-skins, 
deer  horns,  and  drugs,  were  exported  to  China.     The  trade 
was  fairly  considerable,  for  at  this  time  in  one  year  five 
cargoes  of  raw  silk  valued  at  621,855  guilders  were  sent  to 
Japan,  and  two  cargoes  of  silk  piece-goods  valued  at  559,493 
guilders  to  Batavia  and  Holland.     The  whole  Chinese  trade 
amounted  to  one  million  gold  dollars  a  year,  and  generally 
meant  100  per  cent,  profit.     The  expenses  of  the  Dutch 
colony   were   214,000   guilders,   and   after   all   these   were 
settled  there  remained  over  for  the  Batavia  Government 
85,000  guilders.    The  employees  of  the  Company  in  Formosa, 
as  elsewhere,  were  miserably  paid,  and  were  accordingly 
obliged  to  engage  in  trade  on  their  own  account  to  recom- 
pense themselves. 

The  Spanish,  who  were  estabhshed  in  North  Formosa  at 
Keelung,  were  exceedingly  annoyed  to  find  the  Dutch  making 
such  progress  in  the  south  of  the  island,  but  were  powerless 
to  do  anything.     In  1627  the  first  Dutch  missionary,  George 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     203 

Candidius,  arrived,  and  at  once  set  about  learning  the 
language,  which  he  soon  mastered.  Most  of  the  villages 
round  Fort  Zeelandia  were  Christianised,  and  in  each  of 
them  schoolmasters  weie  put  to  instruct  both  young  and 
old  in  the  Scriptures.  In  1629  the  Dutch  decided  that  it 
was  no  longer  desirable  that  the  Spanish  should  remain  iii 
the  island,  and  decided,  if  possible,  to  get  rid  of  them  by 
pacific  means,  only  resorting  to  force  if  they  proved  intract- 
able ;  but  Peter  Nuits,  the  Dutch  governor  at  Formosa, 
received  no  encouragement  from  Batavia,  where  they  were 
much  too  occupied  to  spare  any  more  ships  at  the  moment. 
In  1641,  however,  the  following  despatch  was  sent  by  the 
Dutch  governor  in  the  south  to  the  Spanish  governor  in  the 
noith  : — 

"  To  Gonsalo  PortiHs,  Governor  of  the  Spanish  Fortress,  in  the 
Island  of  Keelung. 

"  Sir, — I  have  the  honour  to  communicate  to  you  that  I  have 
received  the  command  of  a  considerable  naval  and  military 
force  with  the  view  to  making  me  master  by  civil  means  or 
otherwise  of  the  fortress  Santissima  Trinidad  in  the  isle  of  Keelung, 
of  which  your  Excellency  is  the  governor. 

"  In  accordance  with  the  usages  of  Christian  nations  to  make 
known  their  intentions  before  commencing  hostiUties,  I  now 
summon  your  Excellency  to  surrender.  If  your  Excellency  is 
disposed  to  lend  an  ear  to  the  terms  of  capitulation  which  we 
offer  and  to  make  dehvery  to  me  of  the  fortress  of  Santissima 
Trinidad,  and  other  citadels,  your  Excellency  and  your  troops 
will  be  treated  in  good  faith  according  to  the  usages  and  customs 
of  war,  but  if  your  Excellency  feigns  to  be  deaf  to  this  command 
there  will  be  no  other  remedy  than  recourse  to  arms.  I  hope 
that  your  Excellency  will  give  careful  consideration  to  the 
contents  of  this  letter  and  avoid  the  useless  ejffusion  of  blood, 
and  I  trust  that  without  delay,  and  in  a  few  words,  you  wiU  make 
known  to  me  your  intentions. 

"  May  God  protect  your  Excellency  many  years. 

"  The  friend  of  your  Excellency, 

"  Paulus  Tradenius. 

"  Fort  Zeelandia, 

"  August  26th,  1641." 


204  JAA^A 

The  reply  was  courteous  but  formal : — 

"  To  the  Governor  of  Tanvan. 

"  Sir, — ^I  have  duly  received  your  communication  of 
August  26th,  and  in  response  I  have  the  honour  to  point  out  to 
you,  that  as  becomes  a  good  Christian  who  respects  the  oath  ho 
has  made  before  his  king,  I  cannot  and  will  not  surrender  the 
forts  demanded  by  your  Excellency,  as  I  and  my  garrison  have 
determined  to  defend  them. 

"  I  am  accustomed  to  find  myself  before  great  armies,  and  I 
have  engaged  in  numerous  battles  in  Flanders,  as  well  as  other 
countries,  and  so  I  beg  of  you  not  to  take  the  trouble  of  writing 
me  further  letters  of  like  tenor — may  each  one  defend  himself 
as  best  he  can. 

"  We  are  Spanish  Christians,  and  God  in  whom  we  trust  is  our 
Protector. 

"  May  the  Lord  have  mercy  on  you. 

"  Written  in  our  principal  fortress,  San  Salvador,  the  6th  of 
September,  1641. 

"GONSALO   PORTILIS." 

In  anticipation  of  attack,  the  Spanish  commander  asked 
Manila  to  send  reinforcements,  which  were  the  more  neces- 
sary as  just  before  the  Dutch  governor's  letter  was  received 
the  authorities  had  withdrawn  three  out  of  the  four  com- 
panies stationed  in  North  Formosa. 

The  reinforcements  arrived,  and  consisted  of  eight 
Spanish  soldiers  with  a  little  ammunition.  This  was  all 
that  could  be  spared,  as  the  Spanish  were  fighting  in  the 
Moluccas  and  required  all  the  men  they  could.  In  August, 
1642,  the  Dutch,  after  a  six  days'  incessant  bombaidment, 
captured  the  Spanish  forts,  with  forty  pieces  of  large 
artillery,  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition,  25.000  dollars  in 
silver  and  goods  to  the  value  of  more  than  one  million 
dollars.  The  Dutch  were  now  complete  masters  of  Formosa, 
and  erected  forts  at  both  Tainsin  and  Keelung  in  the  north. 
The  former  still  exists  and  is  the  office  of  the  British 
consulate. 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     205 

Round  Keelung,  six  years  later,  the  Dutch  conti  oiled 
forty-eight  villages,  and  their  rule  extended  everywhere  in 
the  island.  In  1650  the  number  of  villages  controlled  had 
risen  to  two  hundred  and  ninety. 

The  East  India  Company  was  now  making  an  enoimous 
revenue  from  taxes  alone,  and  the  island  was  well  ruled  by 
it.  There  were  at  least  five  or  six  thousand  Dutchmen  now 
living  in  the  "  Beautiful  Isle  "  with  their  wives  and  children, 
and  their  occupation  of  the  island  seemed  at  this  moment 
likely  to  be  a  permanent  one,  when  there  appeared  a  Chinese 
pirate,  Koxinga  by  name,  who  in  1662,  after  a  prolonged  war, 
defeated  the  Dutch  and  caused  Fort  Zeelandia  to  surrender. 
The  Dutch  authority  in  Formosa  now  ended,  for  although 
Keelung  was  again  taken  by  them  in  1664,  it  was  abandoned 
in  1668. 

When  the  news  reached  Batavia  that  Formosa  had  been 
lost,  and  that  the  garrison  with  all  its  storey  had  capitulated, 
the  Government  was  somewhat  disheartened,  and  with  this 
ended  all  thoughts  of  the  conquest  of  the  Portuguese  citadel 
of  Macao,  which  they  had  firmly  made  up  their  minds  to 
reduce  and  make  a  Dutch  possession. 

In  the  Formosa  business  they  had  lost,  besides,  one 
thousand  two  hundred  soldiers,  seven  ships,  and  property 
valued  at  £835,000,  which  fact  caused  the  Company  to  take 
thought  before  it  launched  out  into  further  ventures  of  a 
speculative  kind.  It  was  later  on  argued  to  the  directors  in 
Europe  when  explanations  were  demanded  that  the  acquisi- 
tions and  successes  of  the  Company  in  the  Moluccas, 
Malacca,  Celebes,  and  Ceylon  more  than  counterbalanced 
its  loss  of  Formosa,  which,  though  a  blow,  did  not  actually 
affect  its  commercial  prosperity  or  its  superiority  any- 
where else ;  nay,  that,  in  point  of  fact,  it  strengthened  the 
Company  in  holding  that  which  it  had  now  in  its  possession. 

This  may  have  been  so  to  a  certain  extent,  for  the  enemies 
of  the  Dutch,  the  Enghsh,  Portuguese,  and  Spanish,  who 


206  JAVA 

had  now  been  driven  afield,  were  looking  out  to  find  an 
opportunity  to  turn  them  out  of  their  acquisitions.  At  the 
same  time  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  loss  of  Formosa  was  a 
distinct  blunder,  for  which,  as  far  as  one  can  perceive,  there 
was  little  or  no  excuse,  for  had  the  newly-appointed  governor 
of  Formosa,  who  was  named  Coyett,  a  Swede  by  birth, 
taken  things  firmly  in  hand,  as  he  was  instructed  to  do  by 
the  authorities  at  Batavia,  who  sent  money  and  all  the 
ships  they  could  spare,  in  all  likelihood  the  result  would 
have  been  very  different.  As  it  was,  a  strong  suspicion 
was  aroused  as  to  whether  this  "  outsider  "  was  not  a 
traitor  to  the  Dutch,  for  although  he  proceeded  to  Tain- 
vanfoo,  in  accordance  with  his  instructions,  he  made  the 
excuse  that,  on  account  of  the  Chinese  pirate  Koxinga  being 
rather  tightly  drawn  round  Fort  Zeelandia,  he  saw  no 
advantage  in  landing  to  take  charge  ;  yet  he  deposited  there 
all  the  money  belonging  to  the  Company,  to  the  extent  of 
£12,000,  and  other  valuables  which  he  had  brought  with 
him  instead  of  withdrawing  all  he  could,  as  he  should  have 
done  if  he  thought  the  citadel  must  fall.  In  any  case,  in 
allowing  in  the  terms  of  capitulation  all  property  and  money 
to  be  handed  over  to  Koxinga,  he  committed  a  mistake 
which  nearly  cost  him  his  life,  for  on  his  return  to  Batavia 
he  was  seized  and  charged  with  duplicity  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment  for  life,  narrowly  escaping  death.  It  would 
almost  seem  as  if  he  had  richly  deserved  his  punishment.^ 

1  Tlie  following  is  a  list  of  the  senior  Dutch  clergymen  who  served  in 
Formosa,  with  the  period  of  their  arrival  in  the  island  and  the  date  of  their 
departure  or  death  :- 


From 

Till 

Georgius  Candidius 

.      1627        . 

1631 

Robertus  Junius  . 

.      1629 

1641 

Georgius  Candidius 

.      1633 

1637 

Assuerus  Hoosgeteyn     . 

.      1636 

1637  (died  in  Formosa 
in  this  year). 

Joannes  Lindeborn 

.      1637        . 

1639 

Gerardus  Leeuvins 

.      1637       . 

1639  (died  in  Formosa 
in  this  year). 

ROAD    TO    TJIPANAS    GAKOET. 


VOLCANO    OF    SALAK.       (fROM    THE    HOTEL    •' BELLE    VUE,"    BUITEXZORG.) 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST      207 


Dutch  Settlement  at  Firando,  Nagasaki,  Japan  (1611 — 
1812). — The  golden  age  of  the  Dutch  m  the  East  was  between 
1640  and  1750.  They  ruled  and  colonised  everywhere. 
Ceylon,  Java,  and  Formosa  were  in  their  possession ;  Malacca 
was  taken  from  the  Portuguese  in  1641  ;  and  they  monopo- 
hsed  all  the  trade,  so  to  say,  of  Sumatra,  the  Moluccas, 
Amoy,  Ningpo,  Canton,  Cambodin,  Siam,  Tonquin,  and 
Japan,  besides  controlling  the  only  recruiting  station  on  the 
voyage  to  and  from  the  East,  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  In 
India  they  were  doing  a  large  and  lucrative  trade,  and  there 
is  no  doubt,  had  there  been  only  a  little  more  energy  dis- 


of  senior  Dutch  clergymen 

— contd. 

From 

Till 

Joannes  Schotanus 

.      1638 

1639 

Joannes  Bavins    . 

.      1640 

1647 

Robertus  Junius  . 

.      1641 

1643 

N.  Mirkinius 

.      1641 

— 

Simon  van  Breen 

.      1643 

1647 

Joannes  Happartus 

.      1644 

1646 

Daniel  Gravius 

.      1647 

1651 

Jacobus  Vertreclit 

.      1647 

1651 

Antonius  Hambroek 

.      1648 

1661  (beheaded  by 

Gilbertus  Happartius     . 

.      1649 

Koxinga). 
1652 

Joannes  Cruyf 

.      1649 

1662 

Rutger  Tesschemaker    . 

.      1651        . .    , 

Joannes  Ludgens 

.      1651 

Guillelmus  Brake! 
Gilbertus  Happartius     . 
Joannes  Bakker    . 

.      1652 
.      1653 
.      1653 

All  died  before  1665, 
or  about  that  time. 

Abrahamus  Dapper 

.      1654 

Robertus  Sassenius 

.      1654 

Marcus  Masius 

.      1655 

1661 

Petrus  Mus 

.      1655 

1662  (beheaded  by 
Koxinga). 

Joannes  Campius 

.      1655 

1662  (beheaded  by 

Hermannus  Buschof 

,      1655 

Koxinga). 
1657 

Arnoldus  A.  Winsem 

.      1655 

1662  (beheaded  by 

Joannes  de  Leonardis    . 

.      1656 

Koxinga). 
1662 

Jacobus  Ampzingius 

.      1656 

1662  (beheaded  by 
Koxinga). 

Gulielmus  Vinderus 

.      1657 

1659  (died  in  Formosa 
this  year). 

208  JAVA 

played  in  this  quarter,  they  would  have  secured  the  entire 
monopoly  and,  as  a  sequel,  possibly  the  government  as 
well. 

There  was  no  withstanding  their  competition — ^it  was  not 
spasmodic  hke  the  Enghshman's,  but  it  was  regular,  sus- 
tained, and  thorough. 

In  1611  the  Dutch  sent  their  first  ship  to  Japan  ;  they 
called  at  the  port  of  Nagasaki,  and  were  well  received  by  the 
JapaneS^e,who-'were- already  tiring  of  the  Portuguese,  who 
had  been  estabhshed  there  nearly  seventy  years.  Twenty- 
eight  years  later  the  Dutch  had  entirely  replaced  them. 
The  reason  was  plain  :  they  were  tactful  and  more  com- 
placent than  the  Portuguese,  for,  seeing  the  great  profits 
which  were  likely  to  result  to  their  Company  from  so 
advantageous  a  branch  of  trade,  they  decided  to  maintain 
themselves  in  good  credit  and  favour  with  this  nation  and 
blindly  and  passively  obey  whatever  commands  were  made 
upon  them,  however  hard  and  unreasonable  they  might 
appear. 

Their  first  warehouse  was  built  in  the  island  of  Firando, 
at  Nagasaki,  where  they  remained  until  1641.  They  were 
not  allowed  to  move  off  this  island  on  any  plea  whatever, 
unless  with  the  special  permission  of  the  governor  of  Naga- 
saki and  under  escort.  The  first  Dutch  governor  here  was 
one  Kockebecker,  about  1635,  and  one  of  his  first  acts  was 
to  assist  the  Japanese  against  the  people  of  Simbara,  where 
there  were  about  forty  thousand  Japanese  who  had  been 
Christianised  by  the  Portuguese,  and  whom  the  emperor,  to 
show  his  intense  hatred  for  this  latter  race,  condemned  to 
death.  For  months  they  had  been  besieged,  but  there  were 
no  signs  of  their  giving  in,  although  they  were  reduced  to 
the  most  desperate  counsels  by  the  many  unparalleled 
cruelties  and  torments  which  many  thousands  of  their 
brethren  had  already  suffered,  and  which  they  themselves 
had  till  then  very  narrowly  escaped  by  retiring  into  their 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     209 

old  fortified  place  with  a  fii'm  resolution  to  defend  their  lives 
to  the  uttermost. 

The  Dutch  ships  lying  at  Firando,  acting  on  the  instruc- 
tions of  their  governor,  sailed  for  Simbara,  and  within  two 
weeks'  time  had  battered  the  town  with  four  hundred  and 
twenty-six  cannon  balls,  both  from  on  board  the  ships  and 
from  a  battery  raised  on  shore,  and  equipped  with  Dutch 
cannon.  This  immediate  compliance  of  the  Dutch,  and 
their  conduct  during  the  siege,  was  entirely  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  Japanese,  and  although  the  besieged  had  not  yet 
given  in,  they  were  greatly  reduced  in  numbers  ;  their 
strength  was  now  broken,  so  that  Governor  Kockebecker 
had  leave  to  depart  provided  he  obligingly  left  his  hand 
battery  of  six  guns,  together  with  a  further  six  from  the 
ships  with  which  to  erect  another  one.  Governor  Kocke- 
becker was  only  too  delighted  to  assist  his  friends  the 
Japanese,  although  it  meant  sending  his  ships  to  Batavia, 
wiiich  was  a  long  journey,  taking  months  in  those  days,  in 
an  absolutely  defenceless  condition  ;  for,  without  cannon 
to  defend  itself  with,  any  ship  would  be  at  the  mercy  of  the 
pirates  who  infested  these  seas  at  the  time,  and  even  for  two 
hundred  years  after.  The  trade  on  the  island  of  Firando 
increased  in  a  wonderful  way,  and  the  Japanese  took  it  very 
seriously,  so  much  so  that  in  1641  they  allowed  the  Dutch 
to  move  to  Nagasalii  itself,  and  a  corporation  was  founded 
called  "  Hollanda  T^junsi,"  or  "  Dutch  Interpreters," 
which  was  to  consist  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons.  This 
was  done,  not  so  much  with  the  desire  to  assist  the  trade, 
however,  as  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  the  Dutch  learning 
Japanese,  which  the  emperor  was  not  specially  desirous  of 
their  doing,  for  through  it  they  would  learn  too  much  of  the 
inner  workings  of  Japanese  life. 

There  was  another  corporation  called  "  Kairaono  Tskaai," 
or,  as  the  Portuguese  called  it,  "  Compranakana  "  ("  Com- 
pradore  "  as  it  to-day  is) — in  other  words,  the  commissioners 

J. VOL.  I.  p 


210  JAVA 

for  victualling,  not  only  the  Dutch  factory,  but  also  the 
Dutch  ships  which  called  there. 

There  were  corporations  from  which  they  were  to  draw 
their  cooks,  others  from  which  to  draw  their  servants,  etc., 
Btc.  EverytMng  was  laid  down  for  the  Dutch  and  provided 
for  by  by-laws,  and  thus  early  did  this  wonderful  Japanese 
race  show  the  powers  of  organisation  and  administration 
which  have  since  astonished  the  whole  world. 

Once  a  year  the  Dutch  governor  travelled  to  court  to  pay 
his  respects  to  the  emperor  and  to  make  the  usual  presents. 

The  loading  and  discharging  of  the  ships  were  done  by  a 
special  corporation  who  provided  the  number  of  men 
required,  the  Dutch  not  being  allowed  to  discharge  their 
own  vessels.  At  that  time  the  following  goods  were  im- 
ported by  the  Dutch  : — Kaw  silk  from  China,  Tonquin, 
Bengal  and  Persia ;  white  gunnies  from  Coromandel  ; 
woollen  stuffs  and  serges  from  Europe  ;  deer  hides,  ray 
skins,  wax,  and  buffalo  horns  from  Nain  and  Cambodia  ; 
tanned  hides  from  Persia,  Bengal,  and  other  places  ;  pepper 
and  sugar  from  the  East  Indies  ;  cloves  and  nutmegs  from 
Amboyna  and  Banda  ;  cinnamon  from  Timor  ;  camphire 
de  Baros  from  Bomso  ;  quicksilver  and  saffron  from  Madras  ; 
lead,  saltpetre,  borax,  and  alum  from  Siam  ;  musk  from 
Tonquin ;  gum-lacquer  from  Siam ;  rosmal  or  storax 
liquida  from  Arabia ;  corals  and  looking-glasses  from 
Europe  (the  looking-glasses  they  broke  to  make  spy-glasses, 
magnifying  glasses,  and  spectacles  out  of  them)  ;  mangoes 
and  other  unripe  East  Indian  fruits  pickled  with  Turkish 
pepper,  garlic,  and  vinegar  ;  blacklead  and  red  pencils, 
files,  needles,  drinking  glasses,  and  foreign  curiosities.  These 
were  some  of  the  imports  made  by  the  Dutchmen  into  Japan, 
and  the  profits  earned  were  enormous  ;  for  such  was  the 
population  of  the  country,  that  the  demand,  for  which  the 
Dutch  had  the  whole  monopoly,  was  almost  unlimited.  It 
is  said  that  for  many  years  during  the  golden  age  in  Japan 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     211 

they  were  clearing  six  millions  of  guilders,  and  sometimes 
much  more.  When  one  comes  to  consider  that  only  twelve 
guilders  are  required  to  make  one  pound  sterling,  it  was  no 
unwise  precaution  on  the  part  of  the  Dutchmen  to  be  on 
their  best  behaviour  in  Japan  and  do  their  very  utmost  to 
retain  the  monopoly  of  the  trade  they  did  until  1811,  when 
the  English  captured  Java.  The  risks  they  ran  were  reduced 
to  the  danger  from  frequent  wrecks  and  losses  of  goods  on 
the  coasts  of  Formosa  and  the  Pescadores  Islands.  But 
when  this  occurred  it  meant  merely  a  temporary  shortage 
of  supply  which  automatically  caused  an  increase  of  profit, 
which  was  scarcely  decreased  when  the  supply  again  met 
the  demand.  As  the  Dutch  were  doing  in  Japan,  so  were 
they  doing  in  a  smaller  degree  in  Siam,  China,  Cambodia, 
and  Tonquin  (the  trade  in  the  latter  place  opened  in  1637). 
The  expenses  of  the  Dutch  Japan  establishment  usually 
amounted  to  about  £15,000  sterling,  but  it  varied,  as  will 
be  seen  from  the  following  :- 


For  food  and  other  provisions 
Boarding 

Extraordinary  expenses 
Charges  for  the  ships 
Presents    .... 
Interest  and  monthly  wages 
Warehouse  rent 

Total  .  .  .     193,162         160,213 

The  ships  homeward  bound  were  loaded  with  the  following 
exports  : — Copper,  camphor  (packed  in  wooden  barrels), 
bales  of  chinaware  (packed  in  straw),  boxes  of  gold  thread, 
japanned  c^inets,  boxes,  chests  of  drawers,  umbrellas, 
screens,  sacki  (an  intoxicant  liquor  brewed  from  rice),  soya 
(a  sort  of  pickle),  pickled  fruits  in  barrels,  tobacco,  tea, 
marmalade,   and   gold.     This   trade,   but   with   decreased 

p  2 


A 


Expenses 

Expenses 

in  1686 

in  1688 

(Guilders). 

(Guilders) 

.       23,580 

13,166 

9,791 

6,828 

14,097 

4,993 

10,986 

7,589 

.      107,086 

100,789 

8,092 

7,318 

19,530 

19,530 

212  JAVA 

profits,  continued  practically  unchallenged  right  down  to  the 
nineteenth  century. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  document  by  virtue  of 
which  the  trade  was  prosecuted  : — 

'*  Gosju  In  [that  is  letters  patent  under  the  red  imperial  seal] 
granted  by  the  Emperor  Gonggingsama  [who  was  in  his  lifetime 
called  Ongoschio  Sama]  to  Jacob  Spex  in  behalf  of  the  United 
Company  of  Dutch  merchants  trading  to  the  East  Indies,  and 
their  factory  at  Firando. 

"  ALL  Dutch  ships  that  come  into  my  Empire  of  Japan, 
whatever  place  or  port  they  put  into,  we  do  hereby  expressly 
command  all  and  every  one  of  our  subjects  not  to  molest  the 
same  in  any  ways  nor  to  be  a  hindrance  to  them,  but  on  the 
contrary,  to  show  them  all  manner  of  help,  favour  and  assistance. 
Every  one  shall  beware  to  maintain  the  friendship,  in  assurance 
/  of  which  we  have  been  pleased  to  give  our  Imperial  word  to  these 

people,  and  every  one  shall  take  care,  that  my  commands  and 
promises  be  inviolably  kept. 

"  Dated  (stylo -Japonise)  on  the  25th  day  of  the  7th  Mane, 
being  the  30th  of  August,  161L" 


/ 


\ 


The  Japanese  never  in  any  way  disguised  their  dislike  for 
the  Portuguese  even  after  they  had  departed,  as  may  be 
seen  from  the  following  official  document  they  handed  to 
the  Dutch  governor  at  Firando,  containing  *'  strict  Imperial 
commands." 

"GODSOMOKU. 


Strict  Imperial  Commands. 


"  (1)  Our  Imperial  predecessors  have  ordered  concerning  you 
Dutchmen,  that  you  shall  have  leave  to  come  to  Nagasaki  on 
account  of  the  Japan  trade,  every  year.  Therefore,  as  we  have 
commanded  you  heretofore,  you  shall  have  no  communication 
with  the  Portuguese.  If  you  should  have  any,.,  and  we  should 
come  to  know  it  from  foreign  countries,  you  shall  be  prohibited 
the  navigation  to  Japan.  You  shall  import  no  Portuguese 
commodities  on  board  your  ships. 

"  (2)  If  you  intend  not  to  be  molested  in  your  navigation  and 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     213 

trade  to  Japan,  you  shall  notify  to  us  by  your  ships  whatever 
comes  to  your  knowledge  of  any  endeavours  or  attempts  of  the 
Portuguese  against  us  ;  we  likewise  expect  to  hear  from  you, 
if  the  Portuguese  should  conquer  any  new  places  or  countries, 
or  convert  them  to  the  Christian  sect.  Whatever  comes  to  your 
knowledge  in  all  countries  you  trade  to,  we  expect  that  you 
should  notify  the  same  to  our  Governor  at  Nagasaki.  \ 

"  (3)  You  shall  take  no  Chinese  junks  bound  for  Japan. 

*'  (4)  In  all  countries  you  frequent  with  your  ships,  if  there 
be  any  Portuguese  there  you  shall  have  no  communication  with 
them.  If  there  be  any  countries  frequented  by  the  nations,  you 
shall  take  down  in  writing  the  names  of  such  countries  or  places, 
and  by  the  captains  of  the  ships  you  send  to  Japan  yearly  deUver 
the  same  to  our  Governors  of  Nagasaki. 

"  (5)  The  Liquejans  being  subjects  of  Japan,  you  shall  take 
none  of  their  ships  or  boats. 

"  So  be  it  .  .  .  ." 

The  following  document  may  also  be  quoted  : — 

"  Japanese  Regulations  concerning  the  Dutch  Settlement. 

/"  "  (1)  Whores  only  but  no  other  women  shall  be  suffered  to 
enter. 

"  (2)  Ecclesiastics  only  of  the  mountain  of  Koja  shall  be 
admitted.     All  other  priests  shall  stand  excluded. 

"  (3)  All  persons  and  all  beggars  that  Hve  upon  charity,  shall 
be  denied  entrance. 

"  (4)  Nobody  shall  presume  with  any  ship  or  boat  to  come 
within  the  palisades. 

"  (5)  No  Hollander  shall  be  permitted  to  come  out,  but  for 
weighty  reasons. 

"  (6)  All  the  above-mentioned  orders  shall  be  punctually 
obeyed." 

Settlement  of  Ceylon  (1638 — 1796). — It  was  not  until 
numerous  sea-fights  had  taken  place  that  the  Dutch  in 
1639  were  able  to  drive  the  Portuguese  entirely  out  of  the 
island  of  Ceylon. 

The  Dutch  had  carried  on  these  aggressions  against  the 
Portuguese  everywhere,  and  with  such  tremendous  energy 


214  JAVA 

that  the  latter's  power  in  the  East  was  at  last  crippled  for 
good  and  all. 

In  1636  they  attacked  Goa,  the  Portuguese  capital  and 
centre  in  the  East,  with  a  large  fleet.  This  was  the  beginning. 
In  1638  a  still  more  severe  action  was  fought,  in  which  the 
Dutch  lost  two  of  their  largest  ships.  From  Goa,  however, 
they  turned  to  Ceylon,  and  attacked  the  Portuguese  at 
Batticalao  on  the  10th  May  with  four  ships.  They  arrived 
just  after  the  Portuguese  had  suffered  reverses  at  the  hands 
of  the  Sinhalese.  The  Dutch  landed  three  hundred  soldiers 
and  some  hundred  sailors,  and  sent  word  to  the  King  of 
Kandy,  with  whom  they  had  a  treaty  of  some  years'  stand- 
ing. In  response  to  this  message  Eajah  Sinha  arrived  with 
an  army  of  fifteen  thousand  men.  The  Portuguese  fort  was 
then  besieged,  and  after  a  few  hours'  fighting  the  garrison 
of  seven  hundred  men  surrendered.  On  receipt  of  the  news 
of  this  success  at  Batavia  a  fleet  of  eleven  vessels  with  a 
complement  of  twelve  hundred  and  fifteen  men  was 
despatched  at  once  to  Point  de  Galle,  which  was  taken  in 
1639.  Here  the  Dutch  immediately  built  a  very  strong  fort 
and  a  large  church,  and  opened  schools  under  their  mis- 
sionaries in  the  country  around.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
their  government  as  compared  with  that  of  the  Portuguese 
was  a  mse  and  careful  one,  and  the  Sinhalese  were  at  once 
much  benefited  by  it. 

After  Point  de  Galle  had  been  taken  the  Dutch  turned 
their  attention  to  the  important  port  of  Negombo,  which 
they  captured  after  a  short  but  sharp  fight.  The  Dutch 
were  now  masters  ;  for  although  they  had  later  on  to  settle 
several  more  accounts  with  the  remaining  Portuguese 
garrisons,  and  also  to  fight  some  stiff  engagements  with  the 
Sinhalese,  their  actual  power  was  never  affected,  nor  was 
there  any  doubt  as  to  the  eventual  result.  The  last  fight 
of  any  importance  between  the  Dutch  and  Portuguese  in 
Ceylon  was  at  Colombo  (1656),  when  the  latter  were  besieged 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST      215 

for  several  months  before  they  gave  in.  The  accounts 
given  in  the  Dutch  histories  show  that  the  sufferings  of  the 
garrison  must  have  been  intense.  Dead  bodies  were  dis- 
covered lying  about  the  streets  in  hundreds,  and  we  are  told 
that  the  "  stench  was  unbearable." 

Jaffnapatam  was  the  last  Portuguese  stronghold  in  the 
island,  and  this  was  not  long  afterwards  reduced  by  the 
Dutch  with  the  customary  cruelty  and  butchery  of  the 
time,  most  or  all  of  the  men  being  slain,  the  old  women  got 
rid  of,  and  all  the  young  Portuguese  maidens  taken  by  the 
common  soldiery  as  part  of  the  loot. 

On  learning  of  the  capture  of  Colombo  Rajah  Sinha  lost 
no  time  in  urging  the  Dutch  to  dehver  it  into  his  hands,  in 
accordance  with  the  treaty  entered  into  between  them. 
But  the  Dutch  saw  no  necessity  for  doing  so,  for  when 
dealing  with  an  Eastern  monarch  all  is  practically  artifice 
and  stratagem.  The  treaty  with  the  rajah  was  therefore 
not  ratified,  and  instead  of  complying  with  its  conditions 
they  retained  all  the  fortified  possessions  they  had  seized, 
under  the  plea  that  they  were  awaiting  the  consent  of  the 
king  in  Europe. 

Enraged  and  mortified  at  such  a  breach  of  faith,  the  like 
of  which  he  had  never  known,  as  the  Portuguese — to  suit 
their  own  convenience,  of  course — had  always  kept  their 
word  with  him.  Rajah  Sinha  commanded  his  coast  subjects 
to  lay  waste  all  the  districts  in  which  they  dwelt  in  order 
to  deprive  the  Dutch  of  any  hope  of  commercial  gains,  which 
he  knew  was  the  real  reason  for  their  coming  there.  The 
Dutch,  however,  anticipated  the  order,  and  before  it  could 
be  carried  out,  or  even  attempted,  had  taken  possession  of 
the  districts  about  their  strongholds. 

The  Sinhalese  who  lived  near  the  forts  do  not  appear  to 
have  objected  in  the  slightest  to  this  measure — in  fact, 
were  the  truth  known,  they  probably  welcomed  it. 

In  1664,  through  the  machinations  of  the  Dutch,  while 


216  JAVA 

the  rajah  was  hving  at  Milambe,  in  the  Matale  district,  the 
Sinhalese  rose  in  rebeUion  against  him  and  proclaimed  his 
infant  son  as  emperor.  Their  intentions  were  frustrated, 
however,  first  by  a  refusal  of  the  young  prince  to  accept 
the  throne,  then  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  Rajah  Sinha 
himself  at  the  head  of  an  overwhelming  force.  The  end 
was  the  annihilation  of  the  rebel  forces,  the  barbarous  and 
cruel  murder  by  torture  of  several  of  the  nobility,  and  even 
of  his  own  son. 

Matters  became  generally  quiet  again,  and  the  Dutch, 
in  their  desire  to  gain  greater  commercial  intercourse  with 
the  island,  laid  themselves  out  to  do  all  they  could  to  keep 
on  friendly  terms  with  the  natives. 

As  to  Rajah  Sinha,  they  set  about  working  upon  what 
they  thought,  as  with  other  Eastern  kings,  was  his  weakness, 
a  love  of  flattery,  and  they  despatched  numerous  embassies 
to  Kandy  with  rich  and  magnificent  presents.  The  sus- 
picions, however,  of  Rajah  Sinha  had  already  been  awakened 
by  their  past  conduct,  and  were  not  to  be  entirely  lulled  by 
their  present  apparently  submissive  demeanour.  He 
received,  it  is  true,  their  ambassadors  with  similar  assur- 
ances, but  it  was  all  with  the  object  of  gaining  time. 

In  1672  a  new  European  power  attempted  to  settle  in 
Ceylon.  This  was  France,  which  had  been  induced  to  turn 
its  attention  to  Ceylon  owing  to  the  wealth  the  Dutch  were 
securing  from  this  island.  Major  Caron,  formerly  an  officer 
in  the  Dutch  army,  made  proposals  to  the  French  to  lead  an 
attack  on  Point  de  Galle,  and  M.  de  la  Haye,  the  Governor 
of  Madagascar,  sailed  with  a  fleet  of  fourteen  ships  and 
attacked  the  settlement.  Here  he  was  beaten  off  and 
proceeded  to  Trincomalee,  where  he  landed,  built  a  fort, 
and  despatched  three  ambassadors  with  presents  to  Rajah 
Sinha.  One  of  the  ambassadors,  De  Lanerolle,  refusing  to 
submit  to  the  court  etiquette,  was  imprisoned,  and  the 
result  of  the  embassy  was  nil.     Governor  Haye  then  sailed 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     217 

for  Pondicherry,  a  French  possession,  but  was  met  at  sea 
by  a  Dutch  squadron,  and  four  of  his  vessels  were  destroyed, 
while  the  rest  were  dispersed  in  all  directions.  Shortly  after 
this  the  French  fort  and  garrison,  with  all  the  artillery,  were 
captured  by  the  Dutch,  and  this  ended  for  good  and  all 
France's  hope  of  seizing  the  island  for  herself,  besides  the 
fact  that  her  prestige  was  temporarily  lowered  in  the  East 
by  her  complete  failure. 

Eajah  Sinha,  after  the  disaster  of  the  French  endeavours 
to  gain  a  foothold  in  the  island  owing  to  the  strength  of  the 
Dutch,  began  to  feel  alarmed  lest  this  incubus  would 
eventually  oust  him  too,  as  he  felt  that  their  power,  by 
careful  and  calculated  diplomacy,  was  increasing  day  by 
day.  This  uneasiness  of  the  rajah  was  not  without  grounds, 
as  the  territories  over  which  the  Dutch  ruled  were  increasing 
so  much  in  all  directions  that  action  was  at  last  necessary 
to  prevent  his  being  entirely  hemmed  in.  In  1680,  there- 
fore, at  the  head  of  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  men,  he 
attacked  the  fortress  of  Malvana,  knowing  well  that  if  this 
fell  it  would  encourage  his  men  and  enable  him  to  win 
others.  Owing,  however,  to  the  treachery  of  one  of  his 
principal  generals  (who  had  been  privately  bribed)  who  went 
over  to  the  Dutch  with  more  than  half  his  army,  he  was 
badly  beaten.  This  broke  the  old  rajah's  heart,  and, 
although  he  lived  for  still  another  seven  years,  he  was  never 
the  same  man  again.^  Treachery  from  without  he  could 
stand,  but,  coming  from  within,  it  was  more  than  could  be 
borne. 

After  the  rajah's  death  the  Dutch  endeavoured  with 
flattering  proposals  to  secure  still  greater  commercial  gain, 
and  there  is  no  doubt  that  by  one  way  and  another  they 
did  so. 

Most  of  the  governors  whom  the  Dutch  East  India  Com- 

1  He  was  87  years  when  he  died,  having  been  born  in  1600.  He  reigned 
fifty  years. 


218  JAVA 

pany  sent  to  administer  in  Ceylon  were,  for  their  times,  able 
men.  It  is,  of  course,  true  that  one  or  two,  more  than  the 
others,  were  cruel  and  harsh  towards  the  natives  and  ruled 
with  a  rod  of  iron  ;  but  in  most  cases,  however  harsh  they 
were,  it  could  not  have  been  worse  than  the  rajah's  rule,  who 
kept  trained  elephants  to  crush  the  life  out  of  those  who 
oilFended  or  tear  the  limbs  off  the  hapless  victim,  or  who  tied 
them  by  their  heels  to  gallows  and  then  split  them  in  two. 

Van  Goens,  Peil,  and  Becker  seem  all  to  have  been 
merciful  governors,  whilst  the  rule  of  Eumph  seems  specially 
to  have  been  distinguished  as  much  by  ability  as  by 
humanity.  His  follower,  however,  Arnold  Moll,  was  a 
ruffian,  and  his  exactions  caused  a  serious  insurrection  at 
Colombo,  and  ended  in  the  murder  of  some  of  the  Hollanders. 
Then  came  Petrus  Vuyst,  who,  like  so  many  men  in  other 
places,  endeavoured  with  all  in  his  power  to  make  himself 
an  independent  sovereign,  and  with  this  object  had  recourse 
to  a  curious  system  of  barbarity.  All  persons  who  had  any 
influence  in  Ceylon  or  possessed  wealth  were  subjected  to 
terrible  tortures  as  a  means  of  preventing  their  thwarting 
his  schemes.  Vuyst  was  eventually  made  a  prisoner  and 
sent  to  headquarters  at  Batavia  to  the  viceroy,  where  he 
met  with  a  condign  punishment.  He  was  broken  alive  on 
the  wheel,  his  body  quartered  and  burnt,  and  the  ashes 
thrown  into  the  sea. 

His  successor  was  Stephanus  Versluys,  who,  not  profiting 
by  the  example  of  Vuyst  and  denring  to  make  as  much  gain 
as  he  could  in  the  shortest  space  of  time,  raised  the  price  of 
rice  to  such  an  extent  that  a  severe  famine  was  the  result 
and  hundreds  died.  On  hearing  this  the  viceroy  at  Batavia 
decided  again  to  make  another  change,  and  sent  a  Company's 
ship  with  a  new  governor  called  Domburg  on  board  to  replace 
him.  Versluys,  knowing  what  was  in  store  for  him,  refused 
to  resign,  and  when  the  Company's  ship  hove  in  sight 
ordered  the  forts  to  fire  on  her  and  drive  her  off.     They 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     219 

easily  succeeded  in  doing  this,  of  course,  but  he  was  even- 
tually compelled  to  submit  to  a  superior  force,  and  was  sent 
a  prisoner  to  Batavia  for  punishment,  which  he  duly 
received. 

With  the  arrival  of  Gustaff,  Baron  van  Imhoff,  in  1736, 
the  settlements  of  the  Dutch  in  Ceylon  made  a  great  advance. 
Hitherto  the  only  article  of  commerce  had  been  cinnamon, 
but  he  introduced  coffee,  pepper,  and  cardamoms  with  very 
successful  results,  and  enormous  sums  of  money  were  raised 
out  of  these  articles.  Van  Imhoff  was  succeeded  by 
governors  who  followed  his  policy,  and  Ceylon  prospered 
accordingly. 

It  was  during  the  time  of  Golnesse,  in  1747,  that  Kirta  Sri 
Eajah  Sinha  took  up  arms  against  the  Dutch.  The  pro- 
vinces of  the  Kandy  chief  were  growing  smaller  and  smaller, 
and  the  inroads  made  on  his  former  absolute  sway  were 
almost  too  much  for  an  independent  chief  to  take  uncon- 
cernedly. He  therefore  determined  to  try  once  more  to 
expel  the  Dutch.  That  he  was  not  successful  was  a  fore- 
gone conclusion. 

In  1763  the  Dutch  themselves,  however,  took  up  the 
cudgels,  and,  encouraged  by  dissensions  among  the  Kandy 
chiefs,  marched  with  an  army  of  eight  thousand  men,  seized 
the  capital,  Kandy,  and  occupied  it  for  nine  months.  Baron 
van  Eck  was  then  the  governor,  a  man  of  character  and 
determination.  The  Dutch  forces  at  Kandy  were  con- 
tinually harassed  by  the  natives,  and  as  their  numbers  were 
being  daily  thinned  by  fevers,  dysentery,  ague,  and  all  those 
diseases  which  follow  an  army  all  the  world  over,  but  in  the 
tropics  in  particular,  it  was  finally  decided  to  abandon 
Kandy  and  retreat  into  their  own  country  again.  The 
retreat  was  a  disaster,  and  Governor  van  Eck,  to  uphold 
his  prestige,  was  then  obliged  to  attack  the  Sinhalese,  who 
numbered  probably  nearly  forty  thousand  men,  in  the 
Kandy  an  mountains  and  forests.     He  defeated  them  with 


220  JAVA 

heavy  loss.  He  then  forced  the  rajah  to  make  a  treaty, 
and  secured  the  forts  of  Putlalam  and  Batticaloa  as  in- 
demnity. 

The  Dutch  now  settled  down  to  a  long  period  of  peace  and 
the  Rajah  of  Kandy  was  left  to  his  own  devices.  Agricul- 
ture now  made  rapid  progress,  and  good  and  wise  govern- 
ment was  the  order  of  the  day. 

The  Dutch  held  Ceylon  without  interruption  until  the 
15th  February,  1796,  when  the  English,  who  have  remained 
there  ever  since,  estabhshed  themselves  there  in  order  to 
prevent  the  island  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  French,  when 
Napoleon  was  overrunning  Europe  and  the  w^orld.  Had 
Holland  not  given  way  to  the  solicitations  of  France  to 
make  common  cause  with  her  against  Great  Britain  at  the 
close  of  the  American  war,  there  would  have  been  perhaps 
no  reasonable  excuse  for  the  English  Government  of  Madras 
sending  the  expedition  which  put  an  end  to  the  Dutch  rule. 
The  Dutch  made  no  show  of  resistance — they  had  really 
settled  in  Ceylon  as  shopkeepers,  not  as  soldiers.  Their 
paid  mercenaries  were  soon  tired,  although  the  Malaj^s 
fought  well  at  Trincomalee.  Three  days  after  the  British 
landing  at  Negombo,  the  gates  of  Colombo  were  opened  by 
the  Dutch  governor  to  the  British  invaders.  The  British 
now  speedily  spread  their  control  over  the  island,  and  in 
1815  the  Sinhalese  king  was  captured  and  deported.  The 
line  of  Sinhalese  rajahs  thus  came  to  an  ending.  The 
English  therefore  succeeded  in  doing  what  two  European 
powers  had  been  trying  to  do  for  three  centuries,  namely, 
conquer  the  kingdom  of  Kandy.  From  this  time  on  there 
has  been  no  one  to  dispute  the  supreme  power  of  the  British 
raj.  The  King-Emperor's  writs  run  in  the  farthest  corners 
of  the  island,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  trivial  outbreak 
in  1834,  there  has  never  occurred  anything  to  disturb  the 
tranquillity  of  the  island  and  its  perfect  contentment. 
The  prosperity  of  Ceylon  since  it  became  a  British  colony 


-WAN     LA]>V     FK(iM     miKK  AKA  1;  F  >, . 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST      221 


has  been  quite  phenomenal.  The  population  has  quadrupled 
itself,  for  whereas  it  stood  at  less  than  one  miUion  when 
Dutch  domination  came  to  an  end,  to-day  it  stands  at  over 
four  millions. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  despatch  from  William  V., 
Prince  of  Orange,  to  the  Dutch  governor  of  Ceylon,  in  which 
he  agrees  to  the  capitulation  of  the  island  : — 

Letter  from  William  V.,  Prince  of  Orange,  to  Governor 
van  Angelbeck,  7th  February,  1795  (translated  from  the 
original  preserved  in  the  English  Government  Archives, 
Colombo)  : — 

"  Noble  and  Most  Honoured  Confidante,  Our  Trusty  and  Well- 
beloved. 

"  We  have  deemed  it  necessary  to  address  you  this  communica- 
tion, and  to  require  you  to  admit  into  Trincomalee  and  elsewhere 
in  the  Colony  under  your  rule,  the  troops  of  His  Majesty,  the 
King  of  Great  Britain,  which  will  proceed  there,  and  also  to 
admit  into  the  harbours,  and  such  other  places  where  ships 
might  safely  anchor,  the  warships,  frigates,  and  armed  vessels 
which  will  be  despatched  there  on  behalf  of  His  Majesty  of 
Britain  ;  and  you  are  also  to  consider  these  as  troops  and  ships 
belonging  to  a  Power  that  is  in  friendship  and  alUance  with  their 
High  Mightinesses,  and  who  come  to  prevent  the  Colony  from 
being  invaded  by  the  French.  Wherefore,  Noble  and  Most 
Honoured  Confidante,  Our  Trusty  and  Well -beloved,  we  commit 
you  to  God's  holy  protection,  and  remain 

**  Your  well-wishing  friend, 

William,  PRmcE  of  Orange. 

"  Kew,  7th  February,  1795." 

The  following  is  the  list  of  Dutch  governors  of  Ceylon, 
with  the  dates  of  their  appointments,  from  the  full  occupa- 
tion in  March,  1640,  until  February,  1796  :— 


At  Galle. 

Wilham  Jacobson  Coster  . 

.      1640 

Jan  Thysz        .... 

.      1640 

Joan  Matsuyker 

.      1646 

Jacob  van  Kittenstein 

.      1650 

Adrian  van  der  Meyden    . 

.      1653 

222 


JAVA 


At  Colombo. 

Adrian  van  der  Meyden 

Ryklof  van  Goens    . 
Jacob  Hustaar 

.  1656 
1660 
1663 

Ryklof  van  Goens    . 
Lourens  van  Peil 

1664 
1680 

Thomas  van  Rhee    . 

1693 

Paulus  de  Rhoo 

1695 

Gerrit  de  Heer 

1697 

CorniKs  Johannes  Simonsj 

1703 

Hendrick  Becker 

1707 

Ssaak  Augustin  Rumph    . 
Arnold  Moll     . 

1716 
1723 

Johannes  Hertenberg 
Jan  Paulus  Schagen 

1724 
1725 

Petrus  Vuyst  . 
Stephanus  Versluys . 
Gualterus  Nontersz 

1726 
1729 
1732 

Jacob  C.  Pielaat 

1732 

Diedrich  van  Domburg 

1734 

Jan  Maccara  . 

1736 

Gustaff  W.  Baron  van  Imhofi 

1736 

William  Mauritz  Bruinink 

1740 

Daniel  Overkeek 

1742 

J.  V.  Stein  van  Golnesse  . 

1743 

Gerard  van  Vreeland 

1751 

Jacob  de  Jong 

1751 

Ivan  Gideon  Loten  . 

1752 

Jan  Schrender 

1757 

Subhert  Jan  Baron  van  Eck 

.      1762 

Anthony  Moyaart    . 
Imann  Willem  Falck 

.  1765 
1765 

Willem  Jacob  van  der  Graff 

.      1785 

Joan  Gerrard  van  Angelbeck 

.      1796 

(under  whom  Colombo,  and  with  it  the  entire 

coast,  was  surrender 

ed  to 

the  ] 

Britisl 

I). 

Dutch  Settlement  at  Cape  of  Good  Hope  (1600 — 1795). — 
From  1600  onward  the  Dutch  had  more  or  less  looked  upon 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  as  belonging  to  them,  and  all  their 
ships  called  "  out  and  home  "  at  Table  Bay  to  water  and 
refresh. 

In  1620  Captains  Humphrey  Fitzherbert  and  Andrew 
Shilling  arrived  there,  and,  landing,  planted  the  Enghsh 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     223 

flag  and  took  possession  in  the  name  of  King  James.  No 
effective  steps  were,  however,  taken  to  follow  this  up.  In 
1652  the  Dutch  sent  a  large  expedition  to  the  Cape,  and 
took  formal  possession.  A  protest  was  lodged  by  the 
English  East  India  Company  but  disregarded,  and  the 
colony  remained  Dutch  until  1796,  when  the  English 
again  took  possession  of  it  and  have  ever  since  remained 
there. 

Dutch  Settlement  of  Malacca  (1541— 1796).— When  all 
their  strongholds  in  Ceylon  had  fallen  to  the  Dutch,  the 
Portuguese  at  last  began  to  realise  that  they  were  no  match 
for  their  enemy,  who  had  supplanted  them  everywhere 
except  at  Goa  and  Malacca  with  a  cunning  and  ingenuity 
beyond  words.  It  is  true  that,  as  far  as  the  former  citadel 
was  concerned,  the  power  of  the  Portuguese  had  in  no  way 
waned,  but  then  the  governor-general  of  the  Portuguese 
East  Indies  took  very  good  care  to  keep  himself  surrounded 
by  a  large  force  of  soldiers  and  a  "  goodly  number  of  ships." 
The  outward  magnificent  style  this  personage  kept  up  was 
such  as  to  entirely  overawe  the  natives,  who  gained  an 
exaggerated  opinion  of  his  real  importance.  He  was  served 
with  gold  plate,  and  each  meal  was  a  banquet.  He  was 
waited  on  by  Knights  of  the  Cross,  and  no  Indian  was 
allowed  to  approach  him.  Fanfares  were  sounded  and 
cavalry  paraded  when  he  took  an  airing,  and  a  salute  of 
twenty-one  guns  was  fired  from  the  fort  each  time  he  left 
and  returned  to  his  palace.  Proud  and  pompous  display  of 
wealth  attained  by  illicit  means  now  took  the  place  of  that 
generous  virtue  and  laudable  ambition  which  enabled  the 
ancestors  of  the  Portuguese  to  lay  the  foundation  of  their 
empire  in  the  East.  The  clergy,  too,  following  the  example 
of  the  laity,  to  whom  the  lead  had  been  given  by  the 
governors,  with  its  consequent  ill-effects  on  all  subordinate 
officers,  also  began  to  degenerate,  and  instead  of  promoting, 
as  in  the  beginning,  the  conversion  of  the  natives,  traded 


224  JAVA 

freely  and  did  a  large  business  with  their  proselytes  in 
diamonds. 

It  was  this  degeneration  of  their  officers  that  lost  the 
Portuguese  their  colonies  in  the  East. 

When  the  Dutch  governor  at  Batavia  decided  in  1541  to 
attack  Malacca  and  make  an  end  to  Portuguese  rule  there, 
he  sent  a  fleet  of  twenty  ships  to  capture  the  place.  As 
soon  as  the  fleet  arrived  at  Malacca  the  Dutch  admiral  sent 
a  message  to  his  Excellency  the  governor  informing  him 
politely  it  was  his  intention  to  begin  the  attack  the  following 
day  at  twelve  o'clock,  to  which  letter  the  Portuguese  governor 
replied  that  the  Dutch  admiral  could  open  the  attack  when 
he  pleased,  as  they  were  quite  ready.  After  fighting  for 
two  months  the  Dutch  were  obliged  to  give  up,  returning  to 
Bantam  to  refresh  and  feeling  rather  ashamed  of  themselves. 

A  letter  was  now  sent  by  the  Dutch  governor-general  to 
the  Kajah  of  Johore,  couched  in  terms  of  great  friendship 
and  conveying  the  suggestion  that  they  should  attack 
Malacca  together.  The  Kajah  of  Johore  was  pleased  with 
this  idea,  as  he  had  gained  the  impression  that  the  Dutch 
were  of  not  so  much  account  as  the  Portuguese,  and  there- 
fore, if  he  could  get  rid  of  the  latter,  the  former  could  easily 
be  disposed  of  later. 

An  agreement  was  therefore  entered  into  between  the 
Kajah  of  Johore  and  the  Dutch  that,  as  far  as  Malacca  was 
concerned,  they  were  one.  Under  this  arrangement  it  was 
agreed  that  the  Dutch  were  to  attack  by  sea  and  the  Malays 
of  Johore  by  land,  and  in  the  event  of  the  country  sur- 
rendering the  Dutch  were  to  retain  Malacca  and  all  the 
cannon,  while  everything  else  that  was  found  in  the  town 
was  to  be  equally  divided  between  the  people  of  Johore  and 
the  Dutch — a  very  fair  and  equitable  arrangement  for  the 
Dutch.  When  the  Dutch  fleet  arrived  at  Malacca  for  the 
second  time  they  found  a  Portuguese  fleet  awaiting  them, 
and  a  very  severe  struggle  began,  the  Malays  attacking  on 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     225 

the  land  side  ;  but  after  fifteen  days  of  more  or  less  incessant 
attacks  and  counter-attacks  nothing  had  been  achieved, 
and  beyond  a  large  number  of  slain  on  both  sides  the  Dutch 
were  not  any  nearer  capturing  the  forts  than  they  were  at 
the  beginning. 

The  Malays  now  held  a  consultation,  and  began  to  think 
that  if  they  fought  against  the  white  man  according  to  his 
own  fashion  Malacca  would  not  fall  for  ten  years.  They 
therefore  decided  that  fifty  men  should  gain  entrance  to 
the  fort  and  run  "  amok."  On  the  day  fixed  at  five  o'clock 
in  the  evening  fifty  Malays  entered  the  fort  and  ran  "  amok," 
and  every  Portuguese  was  either  put  to  death  or  forced  to 
fly  into  the  interior.  The  Dutch  now"  destroyed  the  Portu- 
guese fleet,  and  Malacca  was  theirs. 

This  new  acquisition  by  the  Dutch  ended  their  ideas  of 
expansion,  and  they  now  began  to  colonise  their  settlements 
as  only  the  Dutch  know  how  to  do  ;  each  of  them  became 
the  home  for  life  of  those  who  came  there,  no  thought  of 
return  to  Europe  ever  occurring  to  these  colonisers. 

The  Dutch  remained  the  undisputed  masters  of  Malacca 
until  1795,  when  the  English  took  their  place,  but  returned 
it  to  them  in  1819.  Li  1824,  however,  the  Dutch  exchanged 
Malacca  with  England  for  the  residency  of  Bencoolen,  in 
Sumatra. 

Malacca,  the  oldest  and  largest  of  the  Straits  Settlements, 
is  a  triangular  piece  of  territory  on  the  west  coast  of  the 
Malay  peninsula.  It  covers  659  square  miles,  has  a  coast 
line  of  fifty  miles,  and  is  adjacent  to  the  States  of  Johore 
and  Negri  Sembilan. 

List  of  the  Dutch  governors  of  Malacca^  : — 

Johan   van   Twist   (governor   and    extra- 
ordinary councillor  of  India)          .          .  1641 — 1642 
Johan  van  Whet  (ditto)            .          .          .  1642—1646 
Arnold  de  Vlaming  van  Outshoom  (ditto)  1646 — 1662 

^  As  far  as  has  been  discovered  by  the  author. 
J. — VOL.    I-  Q 


226 


JAVA 


Johan  van  Rebeek  (commander-resident)  ^ 
Balthasar  Bort  (ditto)     . 
Jacob  Jorrissoon  Pits  (governor) 
Cornelis  van  Quaalberg  (ditto) 
Nicolaas   Schagen    (governor    and    extra 

ordinary  councillor  of  India) 
Dm-k  Komans  (commander)  . 
Thomas    Slicher     (governor    and    extra 

ordinary  councillor) 
Gelmer  Vosburg  (governor) 
Govert  van  Hoor  (ditto) 
Bernard  Phoonsen  (ditto) 
Johan  Groolenhuys  (commander) 
Karel  Bolner  (governor) 
Pieter  Rooselaar  (ditto) 
Wilham  Six  (ditto) 
William  Moerman  (governor)  . 
Herman  van  Suchtelen    . 


1662—1665 
1665—1679 
1679—1680 
1680—1684 

1684—1686 
1686—1686 

1686—1691 
1692—1697 
1697—1700 
1700—1704 

1704—1707 
1707—1709 
1709—1711 
1711—1717 
1717 


Superintendents  of  Peirah^  (established  in  1655)  : — 

Isaak  Ryken 1655—1656 

Pieter  Buytzen 1656—1656 

ComeKs  van  Gunst  .... 

(factory  abandoned  1656,  re-established  1659). 

JuHan  Massis 1659 — 1660 

Abraham  Schats 1660—1660 

Adrian  Lucassoon  .....  1660 — 1661 


Superintendents  of  Ligor  :- 

Balthasar  Bort 
Johannes  Zacharias 
Michiel  Curre 
Juhan  Massis 
Nicolaas  Muller 


1656—1656 
1656—1657 
1657—1660 

1661 
1667—1669 


Superintendents  of  Oedjong  Salang  :- 

Cornelis  van  Gunst 
Jacob  Jorrison  Pits 

(abandoned  in  1660). 


1656—1658 
1658—1660 


'  The  senior  Engliahman  at  this  time  was  WilUam  Turner. 
'■*  Called  Perah,  or  Perak.     All  these  factories  were  under  Malacca,  and 
the  superintendents  were  styled  "  onder  koopmen,"  or  junior  merchants. 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     227 

Superintendents  of  Quedah  : — 

Pieter  Buytzen 1654 — 1656 

Arend  Classon  Dray         ....      1656 — 1656 
(abandoned  in  1657,  reoccupied  1660). 

Ja<;ob  Kerklioven 1660 — 1662 

Hendrick  Pelgrom  .  .  .  .  1710 

Pieter  du  Quesne    .  .  .  .  .  1711 

St.  Helena. — St.  Helena,  so  named  by  the  Portuguese, 
who  discovered  it  on  St.  Helen's  Day  in  1502,  was  taken  as 
the  Enghsh  Company's  property  in  1651,  all  their  ships  to 
and  from  the  East  calling  there.  In  1661  a  certain  Captain 
Stringer  divided  up  the  island  into  one  hundred  and  fifty 
small  farms,  and  let  them  to  settlers  at  a  trifling  rate. 
Slaves  were  immediately  imported  and  made  to  work  under 
fear  of  the  lash  and  torture. 

A  Dutch  Possession  1673. — In  1673  a  Dutch  fleet  arrived 
and  took  possession  of  the  island.  For  years  the  Dutch  had 
cast  eyes  on  it,  finding  it  a  most  convenient  place  for  their 
ships  to  call  to  and  from  Java. 

The  English,  however,  were  not  prepared  to  allow  this,  and 
sent  Sir  WiUiam  Munden  to  retake  the  island  the  same  year. 

This  new  governor,  who  was  angry  with  the  inhabitants 
for  their  treatment  of  the  Dutch,  a  nation  he  was  apparently 
very  jealous  of,  proved  a  tyrant  of  the  worst  description. 
He  branded  whites  and  blacks  alike  with  hot  irons  on  the 
very  shghtest  provocation,  and  lashings  were  of  daily 
occurrence.  One  unfortunate  woman,  a  planter's  wife, 
was  ordered  twenty-one  lashes,  and  then  to  be  ducked  three 
times,  for  merely  remarking  that  to  incur  the  Government's 
displeasure  was  tantamount  to  being  murdered. 

This  bloodthirsty  governor  seemed  in  perpetual  dread 
that  the  Dutch  would  return  and  that  the  islanders  would 
assist  them,  and  any  one  whom  he  had  a  suspicion  of  was 
promptly  punished. 

In  1815  the  Crown  took  over  the  island  from  the  Company 
and  ransomed  614  slaves  for  £28,062. 

Q  2 


RISE  OF  DUTCH  POWER  IN  THE  EAST     229 

APPENDIX  TO   CHAPTER  V 

Dutch  Possessions 

In  the  great  wars  between  1781  and  1811  Holland,  of  course, 
lost  all  her  colonies  to  England,  but  in  1814,  Holland  was 
returned  to  the  House  of  Orange,  when  Java  in  1816  and 
Malacca  in  1819  were  handed  back.  The  latter,  however,  was 
given  once  more  back  to  England  in  1824  in  exchange  for  Ben- 
coolen,  or  one  might  say  Sumatra. 

The  Dutch  have  possessed  at  one  time  or  another  the  following 
settlements  or  agencies  in  the  East  (from  an  old  list  compiled  by 
the  Dutch  Company  for  the  States -General  on  the  22nd  October, 
1664)  :— 

Nominally,  the  entire  East  Indian  Archipelago ;  Malacca 
(without  factories)  ;  Siam,  Aracan  (an  agency  for  rice  and  slaves 
only),  Tonquin  Ava,  Sirian.  In  Coromandel :  Pulicat,  Negapatam, 
MasuHpatam.  Bengal :  Hughly,  Cossimbazaar,  Dacca,  Patna, 
Orixa.  The  island  of  Ceylon ;  the  island  of  Formosa.  In 
Malabar :  Cochin,  Cranganore,  Quilon,  Cananore ;  Calicut. 
In  Ouzerat :  Surat,  Amedabad,  Agra.  In  Persia  :  Gombroon, 
Ispahan,  Bussorah.  In  Arabia  :  Mocha.  The  island  of  Mauritius  ; 
the  island  of  St.  Helena.  The  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  In  Japan  : 
Eirando.     In  China  :   Amoy,  Ningpo  (?). 


CHAPTEE  VI 
The  Dutch  in  Java,  1623  to  1811 

The  Growth  of  the  Dutch  Poiver  in  the  East. — A  certain  lust 
of  conquest  on  the  part  of  her  rulers,  but  mainly  the  desire 
for  the  commercial  gain  to  be  won  from  directly  tapping 
the  sources  of  the  fabulous  riches  of  India,  were  the  reasons 
why  Portugal  sought  a  passage  by  sea  to  the  East. 

The  English,  in  following  this  example,  although  no 
doubt  actuated  by  their  independent  spirit  and  desirous 
of  a  direct  trade  with  India  in  preference  to  having  to 
import  their  goods  through  the  medium  of  a  foreign  power, 
not  always  friendly,  were  unquestionably  more  influenced 
by  the  opportunity  that  offered  for  making  profits  than  by 
the  likelihood  or  desire  of  establishing  colonies. 

The  objects  of  the  Dutch,  however,  were  openly  shown, 
and  it  is  quite  clear  that  their  one  wish  was  to  engross  and 
monopoHse  the  trade  of  the  Spice  Islands. 

Therefore,  however  much  their  political  spirit  in  the  East 
Indies  at  the  present  day  may  be  admired,  and  themselves 
counted  as  the  only  great  colonising  nation  besides  ourselves 
in  the  world,  it  has  always  to  be  remembered  that,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  EngHsh  East  India  Company,  the  Dutch  East 
India  Company  was  created  wholly  and  solely  with  the 
object  of  commercial  profit,  though  from  this  arose  after- 
wards, as  a  natural  sequence,  the  desire  for,  or,  indeed,  the 
necessity  of,  territorial  aggrandisement.  The  result  was 
therefore  that  both  Companies  found  themselves,  sometimes, 
perhaps,  almost  against  their  wills,  getting  possession  of  an 
ever-increaisng  Eastern  empire,  and  that  from  being  merely 
traders  they  gradually  came  to  be  practically  ruling  powers. 
At  this  day  the  Dutch,  except  for  a  strip  on  the  north  coast 


THE  TORMENTS  INFLICTED  BY  THE  DUTCH  OX  THE  ENGLISH  IN  AMBOYNA. 


THE  CONDITION-  OF  THE  ENGLISH  IX  THE  DLXGEOX  AND  THEIR  EXECUTION 

(amboyxa). 


THE    DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     231 

of  Borneo,  are  the  masters  of  the  whole  East  Indian  Archi- 
pelago, and  it  is  possible  that,  with  a  less  narrow  spirit  and 
a  more  magnanimous,  far-seeing,  and  hberal  pohcy  in  India, 
this  country  also  might  have  been  theirs — in  any  case 
temporarily.  It  therefore  seems  fortunate  for  the  English 
that,  after  the  troubles  at  Bantam  and  Amboyna,  when 
they  saw  that  they  had  no  chance  in  the  East  Indies  against 
the  Dutch,  the  East  India  Company  decided  to  transfer  its 
seat  of  government  from  Bantam  and  the  Moluccas  to 
India,  where  its  servants  put  their  shoulders  to  the  wheel 
to  push  on  the  trade  and,  profiting  by  previous  experience, 
kept  a  larger  staff  at  their  factories  than  the  Dutch  did  at 
theirs.  Their  previous  lessons  were  therefore  perhaps 
beneficial,  and  yielded  their  profit  in  due  season  in  India. 

From  this  day  Dutch  power  waned  in  India  before  that 
of  the  English,  just  as  Portuguese  power  had  previously 
given  way  on  the  coming  of  the  Dutch. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Dutch  power  in  the  East  Indies, 
by  the  removal  of  the  English  seat  of  government,  was 
henceforth  assured,  and  no  cloud  of  any  further  interference 
from  a  European  Power  rose  on  the  horizon  until  Napoleon 
began  to  turn  Europe  into  a  playfield  for  his  armies. 

Having  in  the  previous  chapter  shown  how  the  Dutch 
conquered  their  principal  possessions  in  the  East,  the  thread 
of  their  successes  in  Java  may  be  taken  up  again. 

Troubles  in  the  Moluccas. — It  seems  that  after  the  English 
had  been  turned  out  of  Amboyna  the  Dutch  endeavoured 
to  prevent  the  natives  from  growing,  or  in  any  case  from 
plucking,  so  many  cloves  and  nutmegs.  The  natives,  who 
viewed  this  interference  with  their  only  means  of  livelihood 
as  highly  prejudicial  to  their  welfare,  revolted,  but  the  rising 
was  temporarily  crushed  with  a  heavy  hand.  This,  however, 
was  merely  the  beginning  of  a  long  series  of  troubles  in  these 
islands,  which  were  very  naturally  to  be  expected,  as  the 
natives  for  centuries  had  cultivated  nothing  else  but  nutmegs 


232  JAVA 

and  cloves,  and  the  wealth  of  then-  rajahs  was  derived  solely 
from  this  source. 

When  the  Dutch  found  it  was  impossible  to  restrict  either 
the  plucking  or  the  clandestine  export,  they  destroyed  the 
spice  trees,  and  in  those  islands  which  they  did  not  consider 
it  worth  while  to  protect,  or  which  were  possibly  too  far 
away  from  their  centres  of  commerce  for  control,  the  trees 
were  cut  down  wholesale.  Under  such  conditions  affairs 
went  from  bad  to  worse,  and  on  two  occasions  when  the 
position  of  the  Dutch  became  serious,  and  even  alarming, 
the  governor-general  at  Batavia  proceeded  to  Amboyna  to 
look  into  matters  for  himself.  Beyond,  however,  the 
settlement  of  a  few  minor  points  and  the  punishment  of  the 
natives,  it  does  not  appear  that  he  greatly  altered  the  poHcy 
or  disapproved  of  the  actions  of  his  lieutenants. 

The  Dutch  secure  the  Monopoly  of  the  Spice  Trade  to  the 
Exclusion  of  the  Portuguese  and  English. — Fights  and  troubles 
therefore  continued  and  lasted,  in  fact,  in  the  Moluccas  for 
the  best  part  of  a  century.  In  the  end,  however,  the  Dutch 
appear  to  have  had  their  own  way  entirely,  and  the  Portu- 
guese and  Enghsh  were  excluded  by  treaty  from  trading 
with  the  native  princes  at  any  port  whatsoever.  The 
Dutch,  with  this  monopoly,  controlled  the  supply  of  spices 
for  the  European  market,  and  prices  were  therefore  also 
regulated  by  them. 

'^    All  this  does  not  appear  to  have  been  attained,  however, 
without  considerable  sacrifice  of  human  life. 

The  Dutch  were  no  sooner  firmly  established  at  Batavia 
than  the  Susuhunan  of  Matarem  with  a  tremendous  army 
of  Javans  attacked  them.  The  siege  lasted  for  several 
months,  assaults  on  the  town  and  fort  with  elephants  and 
cavalry  being  followed  by  the  sallies  of  the  besieged.  _h\ 
the  end  the  Dutch  imported  a  number  of  Japanese  soldiers, 
and  with  their  assistance  made  a  final  grand  effort  and 
drove  their  assailants  off,  who  withdrew  and  reinforced 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     233 

themselves  at  Kaliewoengoe.  This  war,  it  is  said,  cost  the 
Javan  forces  from  famine,  disease,  and  death  in  the  field, 
about  120,000  lives.  The  losses  of  the  Dutch  were  also  not 
slight,  and  the  troops  must  have  suffered  intensely,  especially 
when  obhged  to  take  the  field. 

However,  the  progress  of  the  Dutch  in  Java,  notwith- 
standing great  difficulties,  was  steady,  and  one  cannot  help 
admiring  the  first  brave  little  body  of  men  who  were 
endeavouring,  by  all  the  means  at  their  disposal,  to  colonise 
these  Eastern  lands  and  thus  enrich  their  country  by  the 
trade  to  be  secured  therefrom. 

Treaties  with  all  the  Sovereigns  of  Java. — By  1646  they  had 
successfully  concluded  written  treaties  with  all  the  sovereigns 
in  Java,  and  on  the  24th  September,  1646,  signed  one  at 
Batavia  with  the  susuhunan,  one  of  its  clauses  being  that 
the  Dutch  should  send  him  a  yearly  ambassador  to  inform 
him  of  the  nature  of  all  the  curiosities  that  had  arrived  from 
Europe,  and  further  that  all  priests  or  other  persons  whom 
the  susuhunan  might  be  desirous  of  sending  to  foreign 
countries  should  be  conveyed  thither  in  the  Company's  ships. 
It  was  also  agreed  at  the  same  time  that  all  persons  who 
should  desert  to  either  country  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding 
their  debts  should  be  given  up,  and  that  the  Company  and 
the  susuhunan  should  assist  each  other  against  their  common 
enemies  ;  also  that  the  vessels  of  the  susuhunan 's  subjects 
should  be  allow^ed  to  trade  to  all  places  under  the  Company's 
authority  except  Amboyna,  Banda,  and  Ternate,  and  that 
those  bound  to  Malacca  or  places  northward  of  that  settle- 
ment should  be  obliged  to  touch  at  Batavia  and  to  apply  to 
the  Dutch  for  passes. 

Trouble  with  the  Sultan  of  Bantam. — During  1652  the 
Sultan  of  Bantam,  who  for  many  years  had  been  carrying 
on  a  desultory  war  with  the  Dutch,  attacked  Batavia  with 
sixty  thousand  men.  On  the  road  he  laid  waste,  burned, 
and  pillaged  all  the  villages  that  were  friendly  to  his  enemy. 


234  JAVA 

Beyond  this,  however,  nothing  much  appears  to  have  been 
effected. 

Treaty  with  the  Sultan  of  Bantam. — On  the  10th  July, 
1659,  the  Dutch  managed  to  conclude  a  treaty  with  the 
Sultan  of  Bantam,  through  the  mediation  of  the  ambassadors 
of  the  Pangeran  of  Janibi,  in  which  it  was  stipulated  that 
all  prisoners  of  war  and  deserters  should  be  restored  by 
either  side,  and  that  the  Dutch  should  as  heretofore  have  a 
permanent  residence  at  Bantam,  for  which  purpose  the  same 
building  was  to  be  given  which  they  had  occupied  before 
the  war  began,  and  free  of  rent,  and  that  this  building  was 
to  be  secured  by  the  sultan  against  any  hostile  attempt. 

Closing  of  English  Factory  at  Batavia. — On  the  19th 
October,  1677,  a  new  treaty  was  also  made  with  the  susii- 
hiinan,  by  which  the  Dutch  secured  the  monopoly  of  all  the 
trade  in  the  Matdrem  provinces,^  to  the  chagrin  of  the  English, 
who  were  now  obliged  oflScially  to  close  their  factory  at 
Batavia.  As,  however,  it  had  for  a  good  many  years 
already  been  merely  a  nominal  affair,  not  very  much  can 
have  been  lost  to  the  English  Company  through  this. 

Trouble  again  at  Bantam. — In  the  same  year  (1677) 
trouble  again  arose  at  Bantam.  The  old  sultan,  feeling 
the  advance  of  years,  invited  his  son  to  share  his  regal  power 
and  help  him  rule  his  kingdom.  This  measure  was  attended 
by  the  inevitable  results.  Jealousy  arose  between  father 
and  son,  which  very  soon  became  an  open  hostility.  The 
policy  of  the  Dutch  led  them  to  take  an  active  part  in  favour 
of  the  young  sultan,  who  had  inclined  most  towards  their 
interests  and  now  solicited  their  aid.  In  return  for  this  he 
was  willing  to  give  them  special  advantages.  The  English, 
on  the  other  hand,  discouraged  what  they  considered  open 
rebellion  on  the  part  of  the  young  sultan,  but  declined  to 
interfere  in  any  other  character  than  as  mediators,  or  to 
afford  military  assistance  to  either  party.     This  neutrality 

'  Batavia  was  of  course  among  them. 


THE    DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     235 

was  probably  sincere,  owing  to  their  extreme  weakness, 
for  since  1668,  when  their  factory  had  been  taken  by 
the  Dutch  and  afterwards  virtually  ceded  back  to  them, 
the  Enghsh  had  been  residing  at  Bantam  partly  on  suffer- 
ance and  consequently  did  not  dare  meddle  much  in 
pohtics. 

Murder  of  English  Agent  at  Bantam. — They  nevertheless 
suffered,  for  on  the  21st  May,  1677,  the  rabble  of  the  young 
sultan,  incensed  at  the  want  of  sympathy  shown  by  the 
Enghsh,  barbarously  murdered  the  agent,  Arnold  "White, 
with  many  of  his  staff.  The  English  Company  in  Janibi 
immediately  reinforced  the  Bantam  factory  with  every  man 
they  could  spare,  so  that  the  ^\ish  of  the  new  sultan  and  of 
the  Dutch  to  rid  themselves  of  the  Enghsh  was  for  the  time 
frustrated. 

On  the  28th  March,  1682,  the  trouble  between  the  two 
sultans,  which  had  been  smouldering,  broke  out  afresh,  and 
the  Dutch  decided  on  landing  a  considerable  force  from 
Batavia,  which  soon  put  an  end  to  the  war.  This  done, 
they  placed  the  young  sultan  on  the  throne,  delivering  his 
aged  father  into  his  custody,  and  thereby  obtained  from 
him  the  exclusive  privilege  for  all  the  trade  in  his  terri- 
tories.^ This,  it  is  quite  apparent,  was  the  main  object  they 
had  in  view. 

Closing  of  English  Factory  at  Bantam  in  1682. — This  treaty 
naturally  carried  ^dth  it  the  extinction  of  the  English 
factory  at  Bantam.  The  factory  was  taken  formal  possession 
of  on  the  1st  April,  1682,  by  a  party  of  Dutch  and  native 
soldiers,  and  eleven  days  later  the  agent,  Kobert  Parker, 
and  his  council  were  forced  to  embark  ^dth  their  property 
on  vessels  provided  for  the  purpose,  and  were  taken  to 
Batavia,  whence  they  were  sent  to  Sui'at  on  the  22nd  August. 
The  Bantam    treaty    was  a  very  important  one  for  the 

1  The  treaty  was  not  actually  signed  until  the  17th  April,  1684.  By  this 
treaty  the  Portuguese,  French,  and  Danes  were  also  driven  out. 


286  JAVA 

Dutch,  and  is  one  more  proof  of  their  slow  but  sure  per- 
severing methods.  They  have  always  been  earnest  in 
making  treaties  with  the  native  rulers,  each  time  gaining  a 
little  more  than  they  had  had  before.  The  loss  of  Bantam 
was  the  final  blow  to  the  English  East  India  Company  in 
Java.^  The  Dutchmen  had  stood  up  boldly  against  them 
and  had  shown  themselves  hard  to  beat  down.  The  Enghsh 
Company,  despite,  however,  all  its  manifold  troubles  and 
vicissitudes,  had  lasted  no  less  than  eighty  years  in  the 
Island.  Bloodshed,  death,  perpetual  disappointment,  and 
continual  rows  with  the  Dutch  marked  the  conduct  of  the 
past  at  Bantam  and  Jacatra.  When  one  reads  the  records 
of  the  time,  it  seems  that  the  Company's  agents  and  admirals 
in  Java,  although  men  of  grit,  were  no  match  in  commercial 
dealings  with  the  Dutch,  who  trusted  in  themselves  and 
themselves  alone.  The  English,  on  the  other  hand,  were 
too  much  inclined  to  place  reliance  in  the  local  native  chiefs, 
who  invariably  proved  very  weak  reeds,  and  generally  ended 
in  supporting  the  party  which  showed  the  greatest  strength 
and  gave  the  most  trouble. 

Then,  again,  the  Enghsh  Company's  agents  were  con- 
tinually changing,  owing  to  frequent  deaths  and  other 
reasons.  The  Dutch  agents  seem,  however,  to  have  been 
better  fitted  constitutionally  to  stand  the  effects  of  the  rough 
life,  the  unwholesome  tropical  climate,  and  the  infected 
water  of  old  Bantam.^  Still,  however,  the  English  did  not 
give  in  to  the  Dutch,  although  they  at  last  fell  victims  to 
them  in  a  political  struggle.' 

There  is  rather  a  good  insight  into  what  life  was  like  at 
Bantam  at  this  period  to  be  gained  from  Edmund  Scott's 

'  The  factory  at  Japara  lasted  until  1677.  The  remaining  English  in 
other  parts  of  Java  were  finally  expelled  in  1684. 

^  There  -were  100,000  inhabitants  in  Bantam  at  this  time,  at  least 
according  to  J.  Hageman. 

^  For  Hst  of  Company's  agents  and  staff  at  Bantam  and  Batavia,  see 
Chapter  XII. 


THE   DUTCH    IN    JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     237 

journal  from  1602  to  1605,  and  Captain  John  Saris 's  account 
from  1605  to  1609,  given  in  Chapter  XII. 

The  loss  of  Bantam  was  a  somewhat  severe  blow,  and  the 
English  Company  experienced  the  accumulated  loss  of 
principal  and  interest  expended  on  their  dead  stock  at 
Bantam  and  its  dependencies,  the  amount  of  which  can 
only  be  roughly  calculated.  When  the  Bantam  agent, 
Robert  Parker,  and  his  council  arrived  at  Surat,  they 
handed  over  goods  and  money  to  the  value  of  39,000  pieces 
of  eight,  which  was  charged  to  the  Surat  account,  as  were 
the  debts  of  the  factories  formerly  subordinate  to  Bantam, 
namely,  Siani,  Tonquin,  Taiyuanfoo  (in  Formosa),  and 
Jamhi,  amounting  to  176,000  pieces  of  eight.  The  trade, 
however,  of  all  these  subordinate  factories  might  be  termed 
a  failure,  the  cause  of  which  was  the  usual  one,  namely,  that 
Dutch  competition  proved  too  strong. 

The  Macassars  in  Java. — Several  years  before  the  depar- 
ture of  the  English  from  Bantam  a  Celebes  chief,  with  all 
the  desperadoes  he  could  gather,  landed  at  Besuki  and  soon 
collected  a  following  of  similar  rascals,  with  whom  he  com- 
mitted great  depredations. 

The  Independence  of  Madura  proclaimed  hy  Truna  Jaya. — 
At  the  same  time  Truna  Jaya,  who  was  a  nephew  of  the 
Adipdte  of  Madura,  declared  the  independence  of  Madura, 
freeing  that  country  from  the  hated  rule  of  Matdrem. 

An  army  sent  against  the  Macassars  from  Matdrem  was 
repulsed,  and  the  provinces  of  Pasuruan,  Proholingo,  Wira- 
saba  and  Japara  ^  submitted  to  the  new  rule. 

The  Susuhunan  solicits  the  aid  of  the  Dutch. — In  this  pre- 
dicament the  susuhunan,  finding  himself  unequal  to  dis- 
lodging the  Macassar  establishment,  or  to  reducing  the 
Madurese  to  submission,  solicited  the  aid  of  the  Dutch. 

A  second  Javan  army  was  at  once  prepared  and  directed 
to  assemble  at  Japara  and  to  procure  the  assistance  of  all 

'  Modjokerto. 


238  JAVA 

the  white  people  who  had  factories  there,  Dutch,  French, 
Enghsh,  and  Portuguese.  The  Dutch  commandant  at 
Japara,  when  asked  for  aid,  rephed  that  "  this  apphcation 
on  the  part  of  the  susiihunan  was  just  what  the  Dutch  had 
been  long  anxious  for,  and  that  he  was  ready  to  obey  his 
orders  and  sacrifice  his  life  in  his  service." 

Madura  attacked  by  the  Dutch. — The  Dutch  sent  four  ships 
and  some  smaller  vessels  with  soldiers,  which  were  reinforced 
at  Japara  by  the  susuhunan's  troops  and  vessels.  They 
arrived  off  the  north  of  Madura  at  night-time  and  at  once 
landed  the  troops  in  the  forest.  In  the  morning  they 
requested  the  enemy  to  allow  them  to  take  in  water  which 
their  ships  were  in  need  of,  promising  to  depart  immediately. 
This  request  being  granted,  the  guns  were  landed  in  water 
casks  and  batteries  quickly  thrown  up.  An  attack  was  then 
made  on  the  enemy's  works,  and  in  a  few  days  they  were 
demolished,  the  enemy  dispersed,  and  numerous  prisoners 
taken. 

Trii^ia  J  ay  a  escapes. — Those  that  escaped  joined  Truna 
Jaya  ;  and  the  latter,  feehng  himself  now  strong  enough, 
crossed  over  to  the  mainland  and  took  possession  of 
Surabaya. 

Dutch  again  asked  for  their  Aid. — The  Dutch  were  again 
asked  for  their  assistance,  and  Admiral  Speelman  was 
despatched  from  Batavia  with  a  strong  land  and  sea  force. 

Admiral  Speelman  reduces  all  Ports  from  Cheribon  to 
Japara. — On  the  way  to  Japara  he  stopped  at  Cheribon  and 
reduced  to  submission  this  and  all  the  other  ports  between 
there  and  Japara.  After  a  severe  fight  Truna  Jaya  was 
defeated  with  the  loss  of  a  hundred  cannon.  He  now  fled 
with  his  army  to  Kediri,  and  there  he  was  attacked  by  the 
combined  forces  of  Admiral  Speelman  and  the  susuhiinan. 

Truna  Jaya  defeated  at  Kediri. — The  siege  lasted  nearly 
two  months,  and  the  town  was  at  last  taken  by  assault. 
Truna  Jaya  escaped,  but  the  enormous  accumulations  of 


THE    DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     239 

riches  that  fell  to  the  Dutch  thoroughly  repaid  them  for 
their  assistance.  Chests  and  chests  of  Spanish  dollars  were 
discovered  in  the  old  palace,  besides  ingots  of  gold  and  jewels 
in  profusion.  The  old  crown  of  Majapahit  together  with 
the  regalia,  already  spoken  of  in  a  previous  chapter,  was  also 
found.     The  Dutch  could  now  demand  what  they  wished. 

New  Treaty  with  the  Susuhunan. — A  new  treaty  was  con- 
cluded and  the  district  actually  under  Dutch  jurisdiction 
was  extended  to  the  Krawang  river,  whilst  all  their  goods 
were  to  be  free  everywhere  in  Java  from  export  and  import 
duty  ;  further,  they  might  build  factories  or  forts  anywhere 
they  pleased.  The  susuhunan  had  also  to  find  250,000 
dollars  and  three  thousand  lasts  of  rice  to  be  delivered  at 
Batavia,  for  the  expenses  of  the  Dutch  in  the  late  war.  For 
their  assistance  Admiral  Speelman  gave  the  French  and 
English  at  Japara  20,000  dollars  apiece  as  a  gift  from  the 
susuhunan.  He  then  put  them  on  board  two  Dutch  vessels 
and  told  them  never  to  return.  They  were  never  again 
heard  of,  from  which  it  must  be  concluded  they  were 
captured  by  pirates. 

First  War  of  Succession. — In  1700  the  first  war  of  succes- 
sion began,  and  the  assistance  of  the  Dutch  was  again  asked 
for  by  one  of  the  heirs.  This  was  another  opportunity  for 
pohtical  advantage  which  the  Dutch  did  not  lose  sight  of, 
and  therefore  before  granting  any  aid  they  explicitly  stated 
their  requirements.     These  were  : — 

Great  Advantages  gained  by  the  Dutch. — That  all  the  sea- 
ports from  Krawang  to  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  island, 
and  the  whole  of  the  revenues  of  these  places,  including  all 
the  rice,  be  delivered  to  the  State  in  diminution  of  the 
susuhunan' s  debt. 

That  the  whole  of  the  kingdom  of  Jacatra  be  likewise 
permanently  ceded  to  them. 

That  the  sugar  trade  of  Japara^  be  placed  entirely  in  the 

^  It  is  said  sugar  was  being  made  at  Kling  (Klaliug  ?),  an  old  Hindu  town. 


240  JAVA 

hands  of  the  Dutch,  together  with  the  sole  management  of 
the  town  of  Semarang  and  the  village  of  Kaligaivi,  with  the 
proviso,  however,  that  the  revenues  collected  were  for 
account  of  the  susuhunan.  As,  however,  his  Highness  was 
always  in  debt  to  the  Dutch,  the  revenues  were  kept  in 
diminution  thereof. 

The  claimant  PangSran  Puger  (as  related  in  Chapter  II.) 
was  publicly  installed  at  Semarang  on  the  19th  June,  1704, 
and  he  was  shortly  afterwards  required  to  sign  fresh  deeds 
and  treaties  by  which  the  Dutch  were  more  or  less  confirmed 
as  the  overlords  of  the  island.  Oenarang  and  Salatiga  were 
unfortified,  and  the  troops  of  the  would-be  susuhunan  were 
disbanded. 

Another  Treaty  ivith  the  Susiihunan. — The  district  of 
Gehdng  and  all  the  territory  between  the  river  Dondn  and 
Pasuran  w^as  ceded  to  the  Dutch  by  a  treaty  of  the  5th 
October,  1705. 

They  now  held  at  last  all  the  ports  of  the  island  in  their 
possession,  collecting  their  revenues  and  regulating  their 
trade.^ 

The  English  Factory  at  Pulo  Condore. — In  1706  news  was 
brought  to  the  Dutch  Company  at  Batavia  that  the  English 
garrison  at  Pulo  Condore,  which  had  been  established  by 
Catchpoole,  had  been  massacred  by  the  Malays.  It  appears 
that  an  insurrection  among  the  native  soldiery  had  occurred 
as  far  back  as  the  2nd  March,  1705,  the  mutineers  having 
first  set  fire  to  the  Company's  warehouse  and  murdered 
Governor  Catchpoole  and  most  of  the  Enghsh  in  the  island. 
It  was  generally  beheved  that  this  treachery  was  instigated 
by  the  Cochin  Chinese,  in  order  to  get  possession  of  the  Com- 
pany's treasure. 

1  The  dates  of  the  great  treaties  of  the  East  India  Company  in  Java  are 
as  follows  : — 

W^ith  the  Susuhiman  of  Solo,  19th  October,  1677  ;  with  the  Sultan  of 
Cheribon,  7th  January,  1681  ;  With  the  Sultan  of  Bantam,  5th  October, 
1705  ;   with  the  susuhunan  (in  regard  to  Preangev),  1706. 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAV^A,    1623   TO    1811     241 

The  English  Colony  at  Banjermassin, — The  only  factor  who 
survived  was  one  Baldwm,  who,  after  many  adventures, 
managed  to  escape  to  Banjermassin.  Here  the  Enghsh 
Company,  much  to  the  chagrin  of  the  Dutch,  had  secured 
a  firm  footing  and  had  fortified  the  place  as  early  as  1698. 
The  factory  staff  consisted  of  a  governor  and  four  members 
of  coimcil,  one  factor,  three  writers,  one  ofi&cer,  twenty-five 
EngHsh,  three  Dutch,  and  ten  Macassar  soldiers,  thirty 
Japanese  carpenters,  five  Chinese  carpenters,  two  Chinese 
bricklayers,  seventy  labourers,  thirty  slaves,  and  nine 
European  seamen. 

More  European  artisans  were  asked  for,  an  indent  for  a 
large  supply  of  mihtary  stores  made,  and  everything  seemed 
liighly  promising,  when  in  the  following  year  a  catastrophe 
happened  in  the  shape  of  a  native  attack  which  drove  the 
English  out  of  the  place. 

Cunningham,  one  of  the  Company's  servants,  stated  that 
the  attack  was  due  to  the  Chinese  stirring  up  the  "  Ban- 
jareens  "   on   account   of   their  jealousy   at   the   Enghsh 
monopolising  the  pepper  trade. 

English  Factory  opened  at  Anjer. — In  1708  the  English 
established  a  factory  at  Anjeram,  or  Anjer,  in  the  Straits 
of  Sunda.^ 

The  War  continues. — The  fighting  between  the  Javan 
claimants  and  their  adherents  meantime  still  continued,  and 
every  now  and  again  broke  out  into  flames.  Fanjiran 
Fuger,  whom  the  Dutch  had  installed  at  Semarang,  not 
being  the  rightful  heir,  the  real  Susuhiinan  or  Emperor  of 
Matdrem  held  out  resolutely  for  his  rights. 

The  effects  of  this  civil  war  being  at  last  severely  felt  by 
the  Dutch  themselves,  the  country  being  laid  waste,  and 
the  crops  of  rice  being  short,  it  was  decided  to  put  a  large 

1  Here  is  tlie  tomb  of  Colonel  Cathcart,  who  died  on  Ms  voyage  out  to 
China  as  British  Ambassador  to  the  Court  of  Peking,  and  was  buried  here 
in  1788. 

J. — VOL.    I.  R 


242  JAVA 

force  into  the  field  and  re-establish  tranquillity.  On  the 
arrival  of  this  force  at  Madura  it  was  discovered  that  the 
king  of  that  island  had  made  two  unsuccessful  attacks  on 
the  Dutch  garrisons  of  Pamakasan  and  Sumanep  and  been 
forced  at  last  to  leave  his  capital  with  his  family. 

When  the  king,  Pangeran  Chdkra  Deningrat,  saw  there 
was  nothing  else  to  be  done,  and  that  his  enemies  were  too 
strong  for  him,  he  decided  to  throw  himself  upon  the  help 
of  the  Dutch. 

When  a  Dutch  ship  arrived  at  Madura  he  sent  a  letter  on 
board,  which  was  forwarded  by  the  captain  to  the  admiral 
at  Surabaya  ;  the  captain  received  in  reply  a  message  to 
take  the  prince  and  his  family  on  board  and  bring  them  to 
Surabaya.  The  captain  now  informed  Pangeran  Chdkra  of 
the  admiral's  instructions  and  invited  him  to  come  on 
board.  Pangeran  Chdkra,  who  was  unconscious  of  treachery, 
accepted  the  invitation  and  proceeded  immediately  with  his 
wife  and  children  on  board.  When  his  boat  arrived  along- 
side, his  ministers  with  the  emblems  of  State  preceded  him  ; 
after  them  came  the  pangiran,  then  his  wife,  Baden  Ayu 
Chakra  Biningrat,  and  lastly  his  children. 

When  the  pangeran  reached  the  top  of  the  ladder.  Captain 
Curtis  came  forward,  took  his  hand,  and  delivered  him  over 
to  the  officer  on  watch,  who  led  him  to  his  cabin.  The 
captain  remained  until  the  Bdden  Ayu  had  come  up,  and  as 
soon  as  she  stepped  on  deck  took  her  also  by  the  hand  and 
kissed  her.  Not  understanding  this  custom  and  believing 
Captain  Curtis  wished  to  insult  her,  she  called  for  her 
husband,  saying  *'  the  captain  had  evil  intentions."  The 
pangeran,  hearing  the  cries  of  his  wife,  became  wild  with 
excitement,  rushed  on  deck,  kris  in  hand,  and  without 
further  to-do  stabbed  Curtis.  The  ministers  and  attendants 
who  had  come  on  board,  following  the  example  of  their 
master,  raised  the  cry  of  artiok  and  instantly  fell  on  the 
crew. 


THE    DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     243 

These,  however,  were  too  strong  for  them,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  all  the  Malays,  including  the  chief,  were 
killed. 

The  rebels  both  in  Eastern  Java  and  Madura  were  now 
joined  by  contingents  from  the  island  of  Bah.  Those, 
however,  in  Madura  were  soon  accounted  for  by  the  Dutch 
and  obhged  to  fly  ;  but  those  on  the  mainland  secured  a 
temporary  success,  and,  movmg  from  Surabaya  towards 
Kertasura,  they  carried  the  provinces  of  Japan  (Modjokerto), 
Wirasaha,  Kediri,  and  Mddion  Sukaicati  with  them,  and  a 
headquarters  station,  with  a  sort  of  government,  was 
established  at  the  latter  place 

The  susuhmian's  position  now  became  more  precarious 
than  before,  for,  added  to  the  worries  arising  from  a  long 
war  with  a  troublesome  enemy,  his  oa\ti  family  began  to 
cause  him  much  annoyance,  his  two  brothers  plotting 
against  him.  Battles  were  fought  successively  at  Kediri, 
Blitar,  and  Malang.  The  operations  proved  once  more  the 
superiority  of  the  susuhunan's  warriors,  for  they  carried 
the  day  everywhere.  His  Highness,  however,  notwith- 
standing the  joy  at  his  successes,  succumbed  at  last  to  the 
worries  and  fatigues  of  a  campaign  carried  on  under  such 
particularly  difficult  and  trying  circumstances. 

End  of  the  War. — His  death  had  the  effect,  however,  of 
ending  a  long  and  tedious  war. 

The  Elberfeld  Conspiracy. — It  was  during  the  year  1722 
that  the  famous  conspiracy  always  known  as  the  "  Elberfeld 
plot  "  was  conceived.  For  some  time  there  had  been  a 
desire  among  some  of  the  native  princes  once  more  to  try 
and  get  rid  of  the  hated  Dutch,  and  plans  were  continually 
made,  but  ended  in  notliing.  This  one,  however,  was  very 
near  being  successful,,  although,  of  course,  it  is  plain  that 
the  success  could  only  have  been  temporary.  The  con- 
spirator who  stands  out  most  prominently  is  a  man  named 
Pieter  Elberfeld,  whose  skull,  thickly  plastered  over,  is  to 

R  2 


244  JAVA 

be  seen  to  this  day  in  the  top  of  a  wall  in  the  old  city  of 
Jacatra. 

The  skull  has  a  spear  run  through  it,  by  which  it  is  per- 
manently transfixed.  Below  it  there  is  a  small  tablet  on 
which  is  written  in  the  Dutch  language  : — 

"  Wik  eene  verfoeyelyke  gedachtenise  tegen  den  gestraften, 
landverrader  Pieter  Elberfeld  zal  niemand  vermogen  ter  dezer 
plaats  te  bouwen,  timmeren,  metselem,  planten,  im  of  teneourrige 
dage." 

the  translation  of  which  is  : — 

"  In  consequence  of  the  detested  memory  of  Pieter  Elberfeld, 
who  was  punished  for  treason,  no  one  shall  be  permitted  to  build 
in  wood,  or  stone,  or  to  plant  anything  whatsoever,  in  these 
grounds,  from  this  time  forth  for  evermore." 

The  story  is  worth  relating.  The  father  of  Pieter  Elber- 
feld was  a  native  of  Westphalia,  the  "  Land  of  Hams,"  who 
had  come  to  Java  for  the  purpose  of  making  his  fortune,  and 
who,  on  arriving  in  the  island,  had  set  up  in  business  as  a 
merchant.  After  some  time  he  formed  a  connection  with  a 
native  woman  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  all  sons,  the 
five  elder  of  whom  followed  the  manners  and  the  European 
habits  of  their  father  ;  but  Pieter,  the  youngest,  born  in 
the  year  1663,  with  strange  pertinacity  from  childhood 
clung  to  native  ideas  and  customs,  and  this  subsequently 
led  him  to  become  an  enthusiastic  and  daring  patriot. 
Hating  the  Dutch  and  all  connected  with  them,  looking  upon 
everything  done  by  them  as  an  injury  to  those  whom  he 
regarded  as  his  own  people,  he  resolved  on  the  extermination 
of  every  foreigner  from  the  soil  of  Java,  and  bent  all  his 
thoughts  to  the  consideration  of  the  time  when,  and  the 
means  by  which,  he  might  best  accomplish  this  great  object. 
Hearing  of  the  disaffection  of  some  of  the  princes  in  the 
interior,  he  privately  communicated  his  designs  to  them, 
endeavouring  to  gain  their  support  to  his  bold  and  dangerous 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     245 

plans  ;  for,  courageous  though  he  was,  Elberfeld  could  not 
have  dreamt  of  success  in  carrying  out  the  scheme  he  had 
formed  without  the  promise  of  assistance  and  co-operation 
from  men  of  more  power  and  influence  than  himself.  He 
ultimately  succeeded  in  gaining  over  to  his  side  the  two 
sons  of  Paku  Buvana  and  several  minor  princes.  The 
Susiihiinan  Paku  Buvana,  whose  empire  of  Matarem  still 
comprised  about  a  third  of  the  island,  died  in  the  year  1719 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  who,  but  for  a  fortunate 
circumstance  (to  be  related  below),  might  only  have  occupied 
the  throne  of  his  fathers  for  a  very  short  time.  Two  of 
his  brothers,  the  princes  alluded  to  above,  growing  jealous 
of  his  ascendency  and  aiming  at  imperial  power,  allied  them- 
selves with  Elberfeld  for  the  express  purpose  of  dethroning 
him,  making  this  condition,  that  if  their  designs  succeeded 
one  of  them  should  assume  the  title  of  Emperor,  and  the 
other  that  of  Sultan  of  some  small  independent  State. 
Elberfeld  was  to  be  raised  to  the  dignity  of  Bin  Hamid  bin 
Abdul  Sheik  al  Islam,  or  High  Priest  of  all  Java.  The  plan 
they  adopted  was  a  very  bold  and  daring  one,  measures 
being  taken  by  which  the  different  leaders  might  carry 
it  out  simultaneously.  Elberfeld,  with  thirty  thousand 
followers,  was  to  attack  and  blow  up  the  town  and  slaughter 
all  the  European  inhabitants  throughout  the  residency  of 
Batavia  ;  while  the  two  princes  with  their  adherents  were 
to  dethrone  their  brother,  the  emperor,  take  possession  of 
Matarem,  and  proclaim  themselves  simultaneously  emperor 
and  sultan.  Elberfeld's  house  was  situated  a  short  distance 
from  the  gate  in  Jacatra  which  opened  on  the  road,  and  here 
it  was  determined  to  hold  the  nightly  meetings  of  the  dis- 
affected chiefs  and  people,  amongst  whom  were  several 
women.  Here  adherents  were  sworn  and  enrolled  and  ail 
the  proceedings  connected  with  this  terrible  plot  discussed, 
such  caution  being  used  to  avoid  detection  that  the  con- 
spirators never  raised  their  voices  above  a  whisper,  and  were 


246  JAVA 

it  not  for  the  fortunate  circumstance  before  alluded  to, 
there  is  not  the  shghtesfc  doubt  that  some,  if  not  all,  of  the 
Dutch  inhabitants  and  the  adherents  of  the  reigning  native 
emperor  would  have  fallen  at  the  hands  of  their  midnight 
foes. 

Elberfeld  had  living  with  him  a  young  niece,  a  brother's 
child,  whom  at  her  father's  death  he  had  adopted  as  his  own, 
separating  her  from  her  brothers  and  sisters  and  educating 
her  as  a  native.  Meeda  (this  was  her  name),  whose  mind 
and  tastes,  despite  the  love  she  felt  for  her  uncle,  inclined 
her  to  the  European  side,  was  very  beautiful,  inheriting  the 
fair  skin  of  her  grandfather,  with  the  dark  e5^es  and  locks  of 
her  grandmother,  and  could  not  help  expressing  the  disgust 
she  felt  for  every  suitor  for  her  hand  whom  her  uncle 
approved  of.  In  her  walks  and  drives  she  had  frequently 
observed  a  young  Dutch  officer  attentively  regarding  her, 
and  this  circumstance  inspiring  her  with  the  desire  of 
marrying  a  European,  she  ardently  hoped  the  young 
soldier  would  pay  his  addresses  to  her,  little  doubting  that 
she  would  be  able  to  gain  her  uncle's  consent  to  such  a  union. 
The  Dutch  officer  had,  indeed,  frequently  attempted  to 
speak  to  Meeda,  but  so  closely  was  she  watched  by  her 
anxious  relative  that  he  saw  that  his  only  chance  of  obtain- 
ing her  hand  lay  in  openly  demanding  it  of  the  wealthy 
uncle.  Accordingly  he  did  so,  and  his  surprise  exceeded  all 
bounds  when  he  was  informed  that  no  child  or  relative  of 
Elberfeld's  should  marry  a  white  man,  and  that,  fondly  as 
he  loved  his  niece,  he  would  rather  see  her  dead  than  the 
wife  of  a  Dutchman. 

At  once  disappointed  and  exasperated,  the  officer  left  the 
house,  determined  on  defeating  the  views  of  the  uncle  by 
some  plan,  for  though  the  lovers  had  never  interchanged 
words,  their  eyes  had  faithfully  interpreted  those  feelings 
of  the  heart  by  which  both  were  inspired. 

Affairs  connected  with  the  conspiracy  in  which  he  was 


THE    DUTCH    IN   JAVA,   1623   TO   1811     247 

engaged  demanding  Elberfeld's  utmost  attention,  and  the 
vigilance  with  which  he  watched  Meeda  being  in  consequence 
relaxed,  it  was  not  long  before  the  officer  found  oppor- 
tunities to  meet  his  inamorata,  and  soon  he  obtained  her 
consent  to  a  private  marriage. 

Meeda,  however,  could  not  thus  set  herself  in  opposition 
to  her  uncle  without  some  conflicting  feelings.  The  remem- 
brance of  his  uniform  kindness  to  her,  the  thought  of  the 
sorrow  her  desertion  would  cause  him,  often  banished  sleep 
from  her  eyes  till  long  after  the  other  inmates  of  the  house, 
as  she  thought,  had  retired  to  their  beds  and  mats.  Still 
love  conquered  every  other  feeling,  and  one  night  when  she 
met  her  lover  she  was  induced  to  give  him  her  faithful 
promise  in  three  days  to  become  his  bride.  The  thought  of 
her  disobedience  to  her  uncle  rendered  her  that  night  even 
more  restless  than  usual,  and  she  was  unable  to  sleep.  It 
was  a  warm,  sultry  evening,  and  the  air  of  the  room  seemed 
to  stifle  her.  Opening  her  window,  therefore,  she  stepped 
lightly  into  the  small  verandah  which  was  attached  to  her 
apartment,  and  here  she  remained  for  some  time  gazing 
into  darkness,  for  the  air  was  thick  and  the  moon  obscured. 
By-and-by  she  was  startled  from  her  reverie  by  a  gleam  of 
light  apparently  proceeding  from  a  lower  window,  which 
threw  its  rays  across  the  path,  a  circumstance  which  in 
itself  would  have  seemed  trifling  had  it  not  been  followed 
by  others  of  a  more  suspicious  nature.  Meeda  had  only 
just  recovered  from  her  momentary  alarm,  and  had  settled 
in  her  mind  that  her  uncle  had  business  which  obliged  him 
to  sit  up  late,  when  on  looking  down  again  she  was  surprised 
to  see  the  hght  on  the  path  frequently  obscured,  as  if  by 
some  dark  body  passing  over  it,  and,  this  occurring  again 
and  again,  she  discovered  to  her  inexpressible  surprise  that 
it  arose  from  the  entrance  of  several  men  through  the  window. 
Meeda,  who  was  a  girl  of  no  ordinary  courage  and  strength 
of  mind,  at  once  determined  on  the  course  to  pursue.     Gain- 


248  JAVA 

ing  her  own  room,  she  proceeded  noiselessly  across  the 
passage  which  separated  it  from  Elberfeld's,  determined  to 
acquaint  him  at  once  with,  as  she  imagined,  their  danger. 
To  her  smprise,  however,  she  found  her  uncle's  room 
empty  ;  and  by  the  light  of  the  oil-lamp  she  perceived  that 
the  pillow  on  the  mat  which  her  uncle,  true  to  his  native 
taste,  made  his  sleeping-couch,  had  never  been  pressed  that 
night. 

Quite  perplexed  as  to  what  step  to  take  next,  the  be- 
wildered girl  regained  her  own  apartment,  and  probably 
would  have  remained  there  until  daybreak  but  for  a  foot- 
step which  she  heard  cautiously  moving  along  the  passage, 
which  caused  her  again  to  venture  forth  to  watch  unseen 
the  movements  of  the  man  whom  she  had  dimly  perceived 
entering  the  room  of  Elberfeld. 

In  a  few  minutes  her  vigilance  was  repaid  :  the  door  re- 
opened, and  her  uncle  appeared  within  a  few  paces  of  where 
she  stood,  shaded  by  a  projecting  wall,  with  a  paper  in  his 
hand  and  a  dark,  sinister  expression  on  his  face.  Meeda's 
first  impulse  had  been  to  rush  up  to  him  and  acquaint  him 
with  what  she  had  seen,  but  second  thoughts  determined 
her  to  wait  and  see  what  he  was  about  to  do,  for  the  expres- 
sion of  his  face  filled  her  with  an  undefined  dread.  Cautiously 
he  stole  along  the  passage  and  down  the  stairs,  followed  at 
some  distance  by  his  niece,  who  carefully  selected  the  most 
shadowy  side  for  her  dangerous  midnight  adventure, 
fearful  lest  a  false  step,  or  even  a  loud  breath,  might  betray 
her.  Having  followed  Elberfeld  to  that  part  of  the  house 
near  which  the  dining-room  was  situated,  she  fomid  all  in 
complete  darkness,  all  the  lamps  having  been  purposely 
extinguished,  a  circumstance  which  by  no  means  tended  to 
lessen  her  apprehension  that  something  was  seriously  wrong. 
Her  uncle  meanwhile  had  disappeared,  and  she  stood 
irresolute  what  next  to  do,  when,  her  attention  being  drawn 
by  the  sound  of  a  door  being  opened  gently,  she  perceived 


THE    DUTCH    IN    JAVA,    1623   TO    181]      249 

to  her  astonishment  their  large  dining-room  dimly  hghted 
and  full  of  people.  Perplexed  and  alarmed  by  this  un- 
expected  circumstance,  she  was  deliberating  whether  she 
should  proceed  or  retire,  when  the  door  was  again  closed 
and  she  was  left  in  total  darkness.  Eesolved  not  to  be 
baffled  in  the  desire  to  penetrate  this  mystery,  she  groped 
her  way  to  the  door,  and,  determined  to  ascertain  what  was 
the  secret  object  of  this  numerous  assembly  at  such  an  hour, 
she  placed  her  ear  to  the  keyhole.  It  was  some  minutes 
before  she  could  catch  any  distinct  word,  but  as  her  ear 
became  accustomed  to  the  whispers  in  which  they  spoke  it 
was  not  long  before  she  became  acquainted  with  the  nature 
of  the  plot  in  which  they  were  engaged.  It  was  with  in- 
expressible horror  that  she  heard  her  uncle  himself  addressing 
the  assembly  and  naming  the  day  and  hour  when  every  man, 
woman,  and  child  of  purely  Dutch  parentage  was  to  fall  by 
the  sword  or  by  fire.  Putting  her  eye  to  the  keyhole,  she 
then  distinctly  saw  every  man  m  the  room  place  his  hand  on 
his  kris,  and,  after  kissing  the  hand  that  had  touched  the 
weapon,  again  perform  the  same  ceremony  with  the  Koran. 
Horrified  at  what  she  had  heard  and  seen,  Meeda  turned 
from  the  door,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes  succeeded  in 
finding  her  way  back  to  the  hghted  part  of  the  house  and 
thence  to  her  room,  where,  carefully  fastening  her  door,  she 
sat  down  to  consider  what  step  she  ought  to  take  on  the 
morrow.  Next  morning  she  contrived  to  write  a  letter 
secretly  to  her  lover  informing  him  of  the  whole  affair,  only 
begging  of  him  if  possible  to  avoid  mentioning  her  uncle's 
name  as  one  of  the  conspirators.  The  young  officer  on 
reading  this  communication  of  his  mistress  was  equally 
perplexed  and  horrified  ;  for  he  saw  no  reasons  by  which 
he  could  avoid  naming  the  principal  in  a  plot  so  daring, 
more  especially  as  it  was  at  his  house  that  the  secret  meet- 
ings were  held.  He  therefore  divulged  the  whole  matter  to 
the  authorities,  who  lost  no  time  in  warning  the  emperor 


250  JAVA 

and  their  own  agents  in  different  towns  of  the  impending 
danger,  at  the  same  time  advising  them  on  no  account  to 
allow  any  indications  of  the  fact  that  the  plot  had  been 
discovered  to  become  known  to  the  conspirators. 

All,  therefore,  went  on  as  usual  till  the  night  preceding 
the  one  fixed  for  the  massacre.  On  that  night  nearly  all 
the  conspirators  had  met  for  the  last  time  to  concert  their 
final  measures.  "  Be  ready  an  hour  before  daybreak  "  were 
Elberf eld's  parting  words  as  he  stood  by  his  door  ready  ta 
close  it  when  the  last  of  his  accomplices  had  gone  forth. 
But  already  the  troops  sent  out  to  secure  the  conspirators 
had  surrounded  the  house.  Before  the  last  man  had  left, 
their  place  of  meeting  a  clashing  of  swords  and  the  loud 
report  of  firearms  were  heard.  "  We  are  betrayed,'*  cried 
Elberfeld.     "  Escape  who  can." 

This,  however,  was  now  too  late,  for  even  while  Elberfeld 
and  his  fellow- conspirators  were  debating  in  fancied  security^ 
every  place  of  exit  had  been  carefully  guarded  by  soldiers^ 
and  a  strong  body  now  entered  the  house,  calling  on  all  ta 
lay  down  their  weapons,  and  mercilessly  cutting  down  every 
one  who  showed  the  slightest  sign  of  resistance.  It  after- 
wards appeared  there  were  several  females  amongst  the 
conspirators,  most  of  whom  were  presently  smothered  with 
pillows,  a  few  only  of  both  sexes  being  pardoned,  one  of 
whom  was  a  woman  of  high  rank  from  the  emperor's  court,, 
called  Karta  Drya.  The  dreadful  sentences  passed  on  the 
perpetrators  read  as  follows  : 

"  Sentence  against  Pieter  Elberfeld  and  his  accomplices  pro- 
nounced at  Batavia,  April  8th,  1722. 

"  Forasmuch  as  Pieter  Elberfeld,  burgess,  born  at  Batavia 
of  a  white  father  and  a  black  mother,  of  the  age  of  58  or  59,  and 
his  accomplices  Catadia,  otherwise  called  Rahding,  Javanese  of 
Kartasura,  etc.,  etc. 

"  We  the  Judges  having  heard  and  examined  the  inform ation^ 
etc.,  etc. 

"  We  hereby   order  and  decree  that  the  criminals  shall  be 


THE    DUTCH    IN    JAVA,    1623     TO  1811     251 

delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  hangman  in  order  to  receive  the 
following  punishments  in  the  following  manner.  The  two 
criminals  Elberfeld  and  Catadia  shall  be  extended  and  bound 
each  of  them  on  a  cross  where  they  shall  each  of  them  have  their 
right  hands  cut  off,  and  their  arms,  legs,  and  breasts  pinched 
with  red-hot  pincers,  till  pieces  of  the  flesh  are  torn  away.  They 
shall  then  have  their  bodies  ripped  up  from  bottom  to  top,  and 
their  hearts  thrown  in  their  faces  ;  after  which  their  heads  shall 
be  cut  off  and  fixed  upon  a  post,  and  their  bodies  being  torn  in 
pieces  shall  be  exposed  to  the  fowls  of  the  air  without  the  city  of 
Jacatra. 

"The  other  [four  principal]  criminals  are  each  of  them  to  be 
bound  upon  a  cross,  and  have  their  respective  right  hands  cut 
off,  their  arms,  thighs  and  breasts  pinched,  their  bodies  ripped 
open,  and  their  hearts  thrown  in  their  faces,  and  their  limbs 
exposed  upon  a  wheel,  there  to  become  the  prey  of  birds. 

"The  [last]  three  are  condemned  each  of  them  to  be  tied  to 
a  stake,  and  there  strangled  till  they  are  dead.  Their  bodies 
shall  be  then  carried  like  the  rest  to  the  common  place  of  execu- 
tion, and  there  exposed  on  wheels,  for  the  nourishment  of  the 
birds,  etc.,  etc. 

"  Done  and  decreed  in  the  Assembly  of  the  Lords  the  Coun- 
sellors of  Justice  this  Wednesday,  the  8th  of  April,  all  the  Judges, 
except  iVIr.  Craivanger,  being  present." 

The  sentence  was  pronounced  and  executed  on  Wednes- 
day, the  22nd  April,  1722. 

Such  were  the  punishments  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
Not  content  even  with  this  dire  revenge,  the  governor- 
general  gave  orders  to  raze  this  Eastern  Eye  House  to  the 
ground,  the  gate  was  walled  up,  and  the  inscription  already 
given  was  placed  there. 

The  fixing  of  the  ghastly  head  by  a  spear  to  the  top  of 
the  wall  at  the  spot  where  the  gate  had  formerly  stood,  and 
where  Elberfeld  had  frequently  meditated  on  his  dangerous 
plot,  was  the  last  act  of  vengeance  by  which  their  European 
masters  hoped  to  remind  future  generations  of  natives  of 
the  fearful  punishment  with  which  they  had  visited  treason 
against  their  authority. 


252  JAVA 

To  this  day  the  natives  say  that  on  certain  nights  ominous 
sounds  are  heard  at  this  spot,  and  even  apparitions  are  said 
to  have  been  seen.  The  Emperor  of  Maidrem,  in  his 
gratitude  to  the  Dutch  for  the  service  they  had  done  him, 
extended  their  territories. 

Commodore  Boggewein  at  Batavia. — Shortly  after  this 
occurrence  Commodore  Roggewein  arrived  at  Batavia  with 
his  fleet  of  three  ships,  the  Eagle,  with  thirty-six  cannon  and 
one  hundred  and  eleven  men,  commanded  by  Captain  Job 
Coster,  on  board  of  which  was  Roggewein  himself  ;  the 
Tienhoven,  of  twenty-eight  cannon  and  one  hundred  men, 
Captain  James  Bouman ;  and  the  African  Galley,  of 
fourteen  cannon  and  sixty  men.  Captain  Rosenthal. 

This  fleet  sailed  from  Amsterdam  on  the  16th  July,  1721, 
under  the  charter  of  the  West  Indian  Company,  and  after 
battling  round  the  Straits  of  Magellan  arrived  at  Batavia, 
only  to  be  confiscated  by  the  East  Indian  Company,  the 
crews  being  sent  home  by  their  ships.  The  East  Indian 
Company  maintained  that  only  they,  and  not  the  West 
Indian  Company,  held  the  charter  for  trading  in  the 
East  Indies,  and  that  therefore  Roggewein  had  been 
guilty  of  an  infringement  for  which  he  must  pay  the 
penalty. 

The  Great  Chinese  Rising. —The  city  of  Batavia  was  now 
in  the  highest  state  of  prosperity,  and  trade  was  being 
carried  on  by  the  Dutch  with  Europe  and  nearly  every  port 
of  anj'"  importance  in  the  East.  The  production  of  the 
country  had  reached  a  magnitude  never  dreamed  of,  and 
luxury  and  wealth  went  hand  in  hand  and  pervaded  all 
social  life.  The  Dutch  officials  lived  in  a  style  beyond  any- 
thing ever  contemplated  in  Europe.  Slaves  they  had  in 
abundance  to  attend  to  their  every  want,  and  their  money 
flowed  into  numberless  channels.  The  proverb  says,  "  Like 
master,  like  man  "  ;  and  this  is  often  found  true,  for  here 
the  slaves  now  became  arrogant  in  the  extreme,  and  began 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAV^A,    1623   TO    1811     253 

at  first  bullying,  later  on  outraging,  the  Chinese,  who  were 
the  real  merchants  of  Batavia,  in  fact  of  Java.  At  first 
they  caught  the  luckless  Chinese  one  by  one  and  flogged 
them ;  then  they  tried  to  kill  them.  In  fact  they  went 
from  one  step  to  another,  until  the  Chinese  could  stand  it 
no  longer  and  apphed  to  the  Dutch  authorities  to  put  an 
end  to  these  outrages  and  punish  the  offenders.  They 
obtained,  however,  little  or  no  redress,  the  slaves  swearing 
with  one  accord  that  the  Chinese  were  the  aggressors,  and 
in  the  end,  seeing  they  could  secure  no  justice  from  the 
Dutch,  the  Chinese  assembled  at  some  sugar  mills  at 
Ganddria  to  the  number  of  a  couple  of  thousand  and  held  a 
meeting  to  protest  against  their  treatment.  They  then 
chose  a  chief,  with  the  determination  to  oppose  the  Dutch 
and  thrash  the  slaves.  When  this  came  to  the  Dutchmen's 
ears  they  imported  natives  from  the  outside  islands  to  try 
and  secure  the  Chinese,  and  managed  to  catch  two  hundred 
of  them.  These  were  put  on  board  a  ship  and  ostensibly 
banished  to  another  country,  but  when  some  distance  from 
the  land  it  is  said  they  w^ere  all  thrown  overboard,  and  most 
were  drowned.  One  or  tw^o,  however,  managed  to  reach 
the  shore  and  sought  out  their  companions  at  Gandaria,  to 
whom  they  related  all  that  had  occurred.  The  Chinese 
concluded  therefrom  that  the  Dutch  quite  intended  to 
extirpate  their  race,  and  notified  all  their  countrj'-men  at 
Batavia  and  Jacatra  accordingly,  suggesting  a  grand 
assembly  at  Ganddria  with  all  the  arms  they  could  collect. 
The  Chinese  at  Batavia  and  elsewliere,  who  had  been  equally 
harassed  by  the  slaves,  against  whom  no  appeal  was  gi-anted, 
as  soon  as  they  heard  about  the  Dutch  having  thrown  their 
countrymen  overboard  proceeded  at  once  to  Ganddria  to 
the  number  of  more  than  five  thousand.  Here  they  placed 
themselves  under  the  orders  of  the  chief,  Sipan  Jang. 

Another  account  is  that  the  governor-general,  Adriaan 
Valkenier,  was  very  liberal  in  his  favours  to  the  Chinese, 


254  JAVA 

which  enabled  them,  a  race  of  born  traders  and  shopkeepers,^ 
to  grow  very  wealthy.  This  caused  general  discontent 
among  the  native  races,  who,  from  their  indolent  and  lazy 
nature,  remained  poor.  These  latter  now  sought  on  every 
occasion  to  bring  charges  in  the  law  courts  against  the 
Chinese,  against  whom  the  cases  were  always  decided,  the 
evidence  of  the  slaves  proving  too  weighty.  The  Chinese 
now  congregated  together  and  began  pillaging  the  villages. 
Just  as  this  began  a  certain  Baron  Gustaff  Willem  van 
Imhoff,  who  became  later  on  governor-general,  arrived  at 
Jacatra  from  Ceylon,  and  when  he  was  told  of  the  Chinese 
depredations  he  suggested  that  as  many  as  possible  be 
deported  to  Ceylon.  A  council  was  held  of  the  "  Eaad  van 
Indie  "  (viceroy's  council)  and  the  suggestion  brought  for- 
ward, and  accepted  unanimously,  it  being  agreed  that  the 
Government  should  advance  the  cost  of  transporting  the 
Chinese,  reimbursing  themselves  in  due  course  by  the 
collection  of  the  money  from  the  Chinese  themselves  as 
soon  as  they  had  settled  down  and  were  earning  money 
in  their  new  place  of  abode. 

The  Chinese  captain  was  now  sent  for,  and  told  to  go  and 
beat  his  gong  and  read  out  the  governor-general's  proclama- 
tion, but  naturally  no  single  Chinaman  came  forward  to  be 
deported. 

The  captain  Chinaman  was  now  ordered  to  arrest  his 
countrymen,  all  those  that  were  poor  to  be  captured  first. 
This  he  declined  to  do.  Van  Imhoff  then  inquired  how  a 
rich  Chinaman  might  be  known  from  a  poor  one,  and  he  was 
told  by  his  clothing,  that  of  the  latter  being  blue-black. 
The  authorities  now  themselves  arrested  all  those  that  could 
be  found  in  blue-black  clothes,  and  many  others,  among 
whom  were  some  belonging  to  highly  respectable  and 
wealthy  families.     Those  taken  were  placed  on  board  ships 

^  John  Deans,  a  merchant  of  Java,  1810 — 1826,  gives  an  excellent  report 
on  the  Chinese  as  traders. 


i 


^iSSlfli.SIIA 


"•r- 


THK    OLD    TUWN    HALL.    BATAVIA.       (iT    IS    NOT    MUCH    CHANGED    SINCE    ITS    ERECTION 
IN    THE    SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.) 


RIVER    AND    STORKHOUSES    AT    PKKALONGAN. 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     25.5 

and  deported.  A  short  way  from  the  shore  they  were 
amoked  and  thrown  into  the  sea,  at  least  so  the  Chinese  say. 
One  or  two  reaching  the  land  told  their  countrymen  all  that 
had  happened.  The  Chinese  now  became  roused,  and 
decided  to  rebel  against  the  Dutch  and  if  possible  seize  the 
fort,^  and  assembled  at  Ganddria  for  that  purpose.  One 
Chinaman,  however,  determined  to  remain  on  the  side  of 
the  Dutch,  and  for  a  sum  of  eighty  ducats,  sundry  valuable 
presents,  and  the  promise  of  future  patronage  agreed  to  spy 
on  his  countrymen  and  report  all  their  movements  to  the 
Dutch.  He  first  went  to  the  Chinese  camp  and  sought  out 
the  chief,  whom  he  asked  if  he  would  submit  to  the  Dutch 
on  the  promise  of  a  free  pardon  ;  but  Sipan  Jang  refused, 
flaying  they  would  sooner  or  later  revenge  themselves  on 
the  Chinese,  and  that  therefore  the  free  pardon  was  worth- 
less. The  Dutch  then  ordered  that  those  who  wished  to 
join  their  countrymen  should  do  so,  but  that  those  who 
desired  to  follow  the  Dutch  should  shave  off  their  moustaches 
as  a  sign  and  deliver  up  all  their  arms,  even  to  the  last  pen- 
knife, and  neither  burn  a  lamp  nor  make  a  fire  at  night. 

All  the  Chmese  within  the  city  of  Jacatra  who  still 
remained  decided  to  follow  their  instructions.  The  Dutch 
troops  now  shut  the  gates  of  the  city,  hearing  that  the 
Chinese  from  Ganddria  were  arriving.  These  came  on  in 
three  columns,  burning  and  laying  waste  on  their  way,  and 
numbered  on  arrival  at  the  fort  more  than  ten  thousand 
men.  They  made  a  furious  assault  on  the  fort,  but  were 
unable  to  make  any  impression,  being  repulsed  with  loss  of 
seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-nine  lives.  In  confusion  they 
retreated  to  Gending  Melati. 

Next  day  the  Dutch  landed  all  the  sailors  from  the 
shipping  lying  in  Batavia  roads,  and,  having  confined  the 
Chinese  to  their  houses,  gave  orders  to  the  Malays  to  slay 
all  the  male  Chinese,  old  and  young,  who  were  within  the 

1  Oude  CaeteU  (Old  Castle). 


256  JAVA 

city.  There  were  nine  thousand  of  these,  and  only  one 
hundred  and  fifty  escaped,  who  joined  their  countrymen  at 
Kampong  Melati.  The  property  of  those  that  were  killed 
was  appropriated  by  their  slaughterers,  not  one  of  whom 
was  killed,  all  the  weapons  of  the  Chinese  having  been 
handed  over  beforehand  to  the  Dutch.  After  this  massacre 
the  Dutch  troops,  numbering  eight  hundred  Dutchmen, 
together  with  two  thousand  Malays,  marched  to  Kamipong 
Melati'^  and  attacked  the  Chinese,  who  had  entrenched 
themselves,  and  drove  them  with  heavy  loss  out  of  their 
position.  They  retreated  now  to  Paning  Gar  an,  where  they 
were  also  defeated  with  a  loss  of  eight  hundred,  the  Dutch 
losing  fom'  hundred  and  fifty. 

Whilst  this  was  going  on  reports  reached  the  Dutch  that 
the  Chinese  in  Mid-Java  had  revolted  and  selected  a  chief 
called  Sing  Seii.  This  news  v/as  soon  confirmed  by  the 
Bopatis  of  Demdk  and  Grohogan,  who  advised  the  susuhunan 
thereof.  The  emperor  advised  the  hopdtis  not  to  interfere 
with  the  Chinese  and  let  them  fight  it  out  with  the  Dutch, 
but  if  they  did  take  action,  rather  to  assist  the  Chinese  than 
the  Dutch,  as  he  would  be  glad  to  be  rid  of  the  latter,  for 
they  interfered  with  the  land  and  laid  intolerable  burdens 
on  the  populace.  One  of  the  princes  now  wrote  to  the 
Dutch  commander  at  Samarang,  telling  him  that  he  had 
orders  to  attack  the  Chinese  at  Grohdgan  and  requesting  a 
large  supply  of  ammunition.  The  Dutch  were  completely 
deceived,  and  sent  twenty  muskets,  eight  carbines,  and 
eight  pistols,  together  with  eight  barrels  of  powder  and 
thirty  Dutch  soldiers.  A  sham  fight  had  meantime  been 
arranged  and  fought,  and  to  give  the  semblance  of  truth  the 
Chinese  were  sent  away  to  assemble  elsewhere,  and  three 
horses  were  shot,  which  the  prince  informed  the  Dutch 
soldiers  had  been  wounded  under  him  when  he  was  leading 
the  troops  into  battle. 

^  Bidaxa  Tjina,  quite  near  Batavia. 


THE    DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     257 

The  captain  and  lieutenant,  Chinamen  of  Samdrang, 
having  been  imprisoned  by  the  Dutch  governor,  the  Chinese 
here  rose  and  joined  their  countrymen,  who  now  moved  to 
Karang  Anger  (Karang  Anjer),  where  they  were  attacked. 
Semarang  was  now  laid  siege  to  by  the  Chinese  under  Sing 
Sell,  in  concert  with  the  Javanese,  under  the  Prince  M6rta 
Pura,  and  the  Chinese  of  Ambarawa  started  to  attack  the 
Dutch  fort  of  Kerta  Sura  and  marched  as  far  as  Salatiga, 
when  for  some  inexplicable  reason  a  certain  Javan,  Aria 
Pringaldya,  caused  ten  Chinese  to  be  put  to  death,  and  sent 
their  heads  to  Kerta  Sura — in  baskets.  At  this  time  the 
susuhunan  discovered  that  one  of  his  sons  was  intriguing 
with  the  Dutch  commander  of  the  fort  at  Kerta  Sura  and 
caused  him  to  be  instantly  bow-stringed. 

The  Chinese,  besides  laying  siege  to  Semarang,  had  also 
taken  and  destroyed  Bemhang  ;  the  Dutch  had  soon  also  to 
abandon  Jawdna  (Joana)  and  Demdk. 

The  emperor  now  decided  to  destroy  the  Dutch  fort  at 
Kerta  Sura,  which  was  quite  near  his  palace.  Nearly  the 
whole  garrison  was  brutally  murdered,  those  soldiers  not 
killed  being  distributed  with  their  wives  amongst  the 
Javanese,  who  circumcised  the  men  and  forced  them  ta 
adopt  the  religion  of  Mahomet. 

The  Dutch  state  that  the  emperor  was  impelled  to  this  by 
acts  of  oppression  and  injustice  exercised  against  his  subjects 
and  by  total  disregard  of  all  his  representations  for  redress, 
also  by  the  harsh  and  uncivil  conduct  of  the  Dutch  resident 
towards  the  court,  which  was  the  more  obnoxious  on  account 
of  his  having  a  Javan  mother,  and  for  that  reason  and  the 
illegitimacy  of  his  birth  being  much  despised  by  the  natives. 
When  news  of  the  disaster  at  the  fort  reached  the  Dutch 
they  began  to  open  their  eyes  to  the  seriousness  of  the  affair, 
and  decided  on  immediate  action. 

Their  first  step  was  to  absolve  the  Pangeran  of  Madura  of 
his  allegiance  to  his  emperor,  making  him  independent. 

J. — VOL.    I.  s 


258  JAVA 

The  deed  was  formally  signed  at  Semdrang,  and  the  pangeran 
returned  his  wife,  a  sister  of  the  emperor,  to  her  brother. 
On  his  return  to  Madiira  he  immediately  ordered  the  death 
of  all  the  Chinese  in  Madiera,  and  with  a  force  took  possession 
of  Siddyu,  Tuban,  Jipang  (Blora),  and  Lamungan.  At 
Gresik  alone  four  hundred  were  put  to  death. 

The  Chinese,  now  reinforced  by  the  Javans,  spread  over 
the  whole  country  without  opposition,  and  laid  siege  to  all 
the  Company's  settlements  from  Tegdl  to  Pasuruan,  but 
after  many  attacks  on  the  fort  of  Semdrang  and  the  loss  of  a 
number  of  lives,  the  united  forces  of  the  Chinese  and  the 
Javans  had  to  give  up.  The  emperor  now  perceived  the 
mistake  he  had  made  in  assisting  the  Chinese  and  desired 
to  renew  his  alliance  with  the  Dutch. 

The  Dutch,  on  their  part,  considering  the  circumstances, 
found  it  advisable  to  enter  into  friendly  relations,  and  con- 
cluded a  peace  by  which  were  ceded  to  them  the  island  of 
Madura,  Surabaya,  the  sea  coast,  with  all  the  districts  to 
the  eastward  as  far  as  Balamhangan  and  Bemhang,  Japara 
and  Semdrang,  with  all  their  subordinate  ports. ^ 

It  was  also  secretly  arranged  that  the  Chinese  were  to 
be  kept  in  ignorance  of  the  treaty  concluded,  and  that  the 
emperor  was  to  assist  the  Dutch  in  slaughtering  them  all. 

The  Chinese  hearing,  however,  of  this,  moved  off  to  the 
eastward  and  vowed  vengeance  on  the  emperor  for  his 
duplicity. 

They  marched  to  Kerta  Sura  and  surprised  the  emperor, 
who  fled,  leaving  his  court  and  treasures  and  family  to  the 
Chinese.  The  empress,  his  sister,  and  children  on  horse- 
back, together  with  his  mother,  carried  by  two  Europeans, 
under  the  conduct  of  two  Dutch  officers,  escaped  through  a 
back-way,  but  were  pursued  and  overtaken.  The  Chinese, 
now  beyond  all  discipline,  outraged  the  princesses  of  the 
royal  family. 

^  Without  the  previous  restrictions  as  to  revenues. 


THE   DUTCH   IN   JAVA,   1623   TO    1811     259 

The  emperor  collected  his  troops  together  as  soon  as 
possible  and  attacked  the  Chinese,  who  were  not  ready.  A 
pitched  battle  was  fought,  and  the  emperor  drove  them 
away  to  Brambanan,  taking  up  his  abode  again  in  his 
desecrated  and  partially -destroyed  and  now  filthy  palace, 
which  had  been  the  scene  while  the  Chinese  resided  there  of 
dreadful  orgies. 

At  Brambanan  after  two  months  the  Dutch  troops 
defeated  the  Chinese  once  again,  and  compelled  them  to 
retire  over  the  southern  hills  in  disorder. 

A  general  amnesty  was  now  proclaimed,  and,  the  Chinese 
availing  themselves  of  it,  the  war  was  terminated. 

The  Dutch,  according  to  the  old  "  Dagh  Kegister  "  of  the 
"  Oude  Kasteel  "  (the  day-book  of  the  old  Batavia  castle), 
as  soon  as  the  Chinese  were  conquered,  sent  a  long  address 
to  the  Emperor  of  China  explaining  to  him  their  side  of  the 
rising  and  massacre,  and  proving  to  him  that  the  Chinese 
had  really  brought  all  their  trouble  upon  themselves  by  their 
own  foolish  behaviour.  It  seems  they  were  not  particularly 
easy  about  the  matter,  and  feared  a  Chinese  invasion. 

The  reply  of  the  emperor  was  reassuring,  however,  as  he 
stated  that  any  countrymen  oi  his  who  left  the  fatherland 
were  worthless  and  unpatriotic  renegades,  who  deserved  any 
punishment  that  might  fall  upon  them.  Such  was  the  gist 
of  the  laconic  reply. 

New  Capital  of  Susuhunan  at  Sura  Kerta. — A  new  capital 
was  now  estabhshed  called  Sura  Kerta,  which  is  the  present 
residence  of  the  emperors  of  Java. 

On  the  subsequent  succession  of  Baron  van  Imhoff  to  the 
post  of  governor-general  he  was  of  opinion  that,  notwith- 
standing the  favourable  terms  granted  by  the  susuhunan, 
due  atonement  had  not  yet  been  made  to  the  Dutch  nation 
for  the  outrage  committed  against  the  Christian  religion  and 
the  barbarous  treatment  of  the  garrison  of  the  fort  at 
Kerta  Sura. 

s  2 


260  JAVA 

The  two  ringleaders  were  therefore  demanded,  and,  to 
enforce  comphance,  measures  were  taken  to  seize  the  emperor 
and  his  son.  But  the  susiihunan  compHed  at  last  and 
delivered  over  two  priests  to  the  Dutch. 

Further  Troubles  at  Madura  (1742).— The  Pangeran  of 
Madura  now  gave  trouble,  and,  being  of  a  haughty  character, 
declined  to  make  his  v early  submission  at  court.  The 
emperor  therefore  applied  to  the  Dutch,  who  did  their  best 
to  settle  matters,  but  found  it  difficult  to  undo  what  they 
had  themselves  done. 

As  before  stated,  the  Prince  of  Madura  had  taken  posses- 
sion of  Sidayu,  Tuhan,  Jipang,  and  Lamungdu,  and  he  now 
refused  to  restore  them  either  to  the  emperor  or  to  the 
Dutch,  to  whom  they  had  been  ceded,  and  was  determined 
to  keep  them,  if  necessary  by  force.  He  therefore  hired  a 
number  of  men  from  Bali,  and  fortified  the  island  of  Mendri 
so  as  to  command  the  harbour  of  Surabaya.  He  then 
opened  hostihties  himself  by  attacking  a  Dutch  vessel  and 
putting  to  death  several  European  seamen. 

Two  thousand  Madurese  now  entered  Surabaya  and  burnt 
a  number  of  kampongs  (villages),  laying  the  country  waste, 
and  five  thousand  Balians  awaited  his  orders  near  Pame- 
kasan. 

The  prince,  after  being  thrice  defeated,  attacked  the 
Dutch  forts  at  Sumenap  and  Pamekasan,  gaining  a  complete 
victory  and  killing  six  thousand  Javans  under  Dutch 
commanders. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  Dutch  regained 
these  forts,  but  they  could  not  dislodge  the  prince  from  his 
stronghold ;  and  he  now  besieged  Eembang  with  six 
thousand  men.  Lasem,  Pajang  Kungung,  and  all  the  villages 
as  far  as  Paradesa  were  in  his  possession.  At  last  the  fort 
at  Rembang  was  taken,  together  with  the  building  yard 
estabhshed  there.  The  Dutch  now  attacked  him  vigorously, 
but  the  prince,  though  he  left  Madura  and  fled  to  Banjer- 


THE    DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     261 

massin,  would  not  give  in.  Here  he  took  passage  in  an 
English  ship  bound  for  Bencoolen.  Before,  however,  the 
ship  sailed  the  Sultan  of  Banjermassin  seized  him  and  one 
of  his  sons,  and  sent  them  at  the  request  of  the  Dutch  to 
Batavia,  who  sent  the  former  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  and 
the  latter  to  Ceylon. 

Prince  Mangkuhumi  now  rebels. — It  was  not  long,  how- 
ever, before  another  rebellion  broke  out,  this  time  the  prime 
mover  being  Pangermi  Mangkuhumi,  a  younger  brother  of 
the  emperor.  During  the  Chinese  war  he  obtained  con- 
siderable experience,  was  distinguished  for  great  boldness 
of  character,  and  became  very  friendly  with  the  Dutch. 
Next  to  Mangkuhumi  the  most  prominent  character  was 
Paku  Negdra.  The  former  lay  with  his  forces  at  Bundran 
(Banaran).^  Continual  fights  took  place,  which  were  at 
last  interrupted  by  the  death  of  the  emperor  himself. 
Mangkuhumi  had  evinced  a  desire  to  come  to  terms,  and 
given  assurances  of  his  attachment  to  the  Dutch  to  the 
governor  at  Yogija  Kerta,  but  demanded  that  his  son 
should  be  proclaimed  Pangeran  Adipati  Matarem  (heir- 
apparent),  a  condition  the  Dutch  would  not  listen  to. 

More  Political  Advantages  gained  hy  the  Dutch. — The 
reduced  state  of  the  emperor's  authority  before  he  died 
gave  the  Dutch  an  opportunity  for  procuring  further 
political  advantages  for  themselves.  A  weak  prince  on 
his  death-bed  was  under  existing  circumstances  easily 
brought  to  any  terms,  in  the  hope  of  continuing  even  the 
nominal  succession  in  his  family.  He  was  compelled  by  a 
formal  official  deed  to  abdicate  for  himself  and  his  heirs  the 
sovereignty  of  the  country,  conferring  it  on  the  Dutch  East 
India  Company,  and  leaving  it  to  them  to  dispose  of  it  in 
future  to  any  person  they  might  think  competent  to  govern 
it  for  the  benefit  of  the  Company  and  of  Java. 

1  Donald  Maclean  in  1845,  and  later  Baron  C.  W.  van  Heeckeren  in 
1900  owned  a  coffee  estate  of  this  name  here. 


262  JAVA 

After  recommending  his  children,  and  especially  the 
heir-apparent,  to  the  protection  of  the  governor,  the  un- 
fortmiate  monarch  died. 

This  very  singular,  but  none  the  less  important,  deed  was 
dated  the  11th  December,  1749. 

Manghiihumi  now  caused  himself  to  be  proclaimed 
emperor,  but  a  son  of  the  deceased  emperor  was  preferred,  a 
boj''  nine  years  old. 

Maiigkubumi  inflicts  a  Crushing  Defeat  on  the  Dutch. — 
This  led  to  more  conflicts,  and  Mangkuhumi  in  the  Baglen 
and  Kedu  provinces  inflicted  a  tremendous  defeat  on  the 
Dutch,  and  of  those  that  escaped  the  sword  many  were 
drowned  in  an  adjoining  marsh  and  the  rest  were  murdered 
in  great  numbers  by  the  country-people.  Mangkuhumi  now 
marched  to  Pekalongan,  which  he  plundered. 

He  then  carried  all  before  him,  and  encamped  on  the 
alun-alun  at  Solo.  The  Dutch  now  listened  to  his  proposals, 
and  decided  to  divide  up  the  kingdom  of  Matdrem. 

Ma7igkuhumi  Sultan  of  Yogyakarta  (1755). — A  meeting 
was  arranged  at  Gingdnti,  a  village  near  Solo,  and  Mangku- 
humi was  recognised  as  Sultan  of  Yogyakarta,  on  condition 
he  used  his  utmost  exertions  to  subdue  Paku  Negara,  the 
other  claimant. 

After  a  considerable  amount  of  further  fighting  in  which 
the  new  Sultan  of  Yogyakarta  and  the  susuhunan  at  Sura- 
karta  joined  forces,  Paku  Negara  was  defeated  and  sur- 
rendered. He,  however,  received  an  assignment  of  land  to 
the  extent  of  four  thousand  chachas. 

Thus  ended  a  war  which  had  lasted  for  twelve  years  in 
the  finest  provinces  in  the  island,  these  being  laid  waste, 
thousands  slain  on  both  sides,  and  the  independence  of  the 
empire  being  finally  extinguished. 

The  expenses  incurred  by  the  Dutch  for  this  war  are  said 
to  have  amounted  to  4,286,000  guilders  ;  but  as  a  result 
they  obtained,  if  not  the  acknowledged  sovereignty  of  the 


\IKW     lit     THK    >ALAK. 


T.II1^\NA>    UAKUEI. 


THE   DUTCH    IN  JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     263 

whole  island,  at  least  an  effective  control  over  its  adminis- 
tration, which  after  all  was  what  they  wanted. 

Peace  in  Java  once  more. — By  this  final  settlement  of  the 
comitry  the  Dutch  reserved  to  themselves  the  direct  adminis- 
tration of  all  the  provinces  lying  on  the  northern  sea  coast 
from  Cheribon  to  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  island  of 
Madura,  but  the  inland  and  southern  provinces  stretching 
from  the  highlands  of  Cheribon  to  Malang  were  restored  to 
the  native  princes,  between  whom  the  lands  were  divided  in 
nearly  equal  portions — according  to  the  population  and 
chachas^  (that  peculiar  usage  of  the  country). 

Straits  of  Sunda. — The  Dutch  claimed  now  an  absolute 
sovereignty  over  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  and  saw  to  its  being 
acknowledged  by  all  the  other  Powers  whose  ships  passed 
through  the  straits.  Of  these  they  required  a  salute,  and 
held  the  right  of  shutting  the  passage  to  all  nations,  though, 
rather  prudently,  they  never  enforced  it.  This  right  they 
explained  and  maintained  to  proceed  from  the  circumstance 
that  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  straits  was  tributary  to 
the  country  they  now  owned.  From  what  has  preceded  the 
importance  of  the  island  of  Java  to  the  East  India  Company 
will  have  become  evident.  The  comitry  had  been  always 
fertile  in  productions,  which  now  became  articles  of  great 
value.  With  peace  wealth  increased  by  leaps  and  bounds, 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  land,  at  last  pacified  and  governed 
with  a  strong  hand,  exceeded  all  bounds.  The  princes  of 
the  country,  although  sovereigns  over  their  own  subjects, 
were  nevertheless  vassals  of  the  Dutch,  and  this  so  far  that 
their  heirs  were  chosen  for  them. 

The  dismemberment  of  the  empire  of  the  susuhunan  and 
the  possession  of  the  entire  sea  coast  rendered  the  East 
India  Company  secure  from  that  power  once  so  formidable, 
and  from  the  consequences  of  such  prejudicial  engagements 
and  alliances  as  might  be  entered  into  by  the  native  princes 

1  Families. 


264  JAVA 

with  European  Powers  ;  for  although  these  princes  now 
bowed  with  reluctance  under  the  yoke  which  was  imposed 
upon  them,  they  were  clever  enough  to  know  that,  if  they 
were  ever  fortunate  enough  to  disengage  themselves  from 
their  present  bondage,  their  power  had  been  so  broken  that 
they  would  still  be  obliged  to  yield  to  the  first  foreign  nation 
which  should  have  the  inclination  or  power  to  establish 
itself  upon  the  island,  and  perhaps  therefore  be  reduced  to 
a  still  worse  state  of  servitude  than  they  at  this  moment 
experienced  under  their  mild  Dutch  taskmasters. 

The  Dutch  East  India  Comiiany  (1790). — If  the  Dutch, 
however,  had  gained  the  supremacy  of  the  island,  and  had 
secured  the  monopoly  of  a  great  trade,  it  had  cost  them 
large  sums  of  money.  This  naturally  had  its  result  on  their 
exchequer,  although  this  might  have  been  borne  had  its 
disbursers  been  honester. 

The  East  India  Company,  which  had  been  going  on  now 
for  nearly  two  centuries  and  had  been  the  means  of  raising 
very  high  the  prestige  of  the  Dutch  nation,  to  say  nothing 
of  its  years  of  great  commercial  prosperity,  was  at  last 
unfortunately  overwhelmed  in  the  deep  waters  of  financial 
difficulties.  Some  seek  the  cause  in  the  strain  on  the 
exchequer  caused  by  the  expensive  wars  the  Company  was 
obliged  to  undertake  to  maintain  its  political  ascendency, 
but  the  main  reason,  of  which  there  does  not  seem  to  be 
much  doubt,  was  the  monstrous  and  iniquitous  peculations 
of  the  Company's  servants.  One  hears  of  governor-generals 
during  a  five  years'  term  of  office  "  accumulating  out  of 
perquisites  "  eight  or  nine  lakhs  of  guilders  (£80,000  sterling); 
of  governors  of  Semarang  retiring  after  three  years'  service 
with  two  million  guilders  (not  far  from  £200,000)  "  without 
having  defrauded  any  one  "  (the  Company  was  presumably 
not  included)  ;  of  subordinates  with  £20,000  and  £10,000  ; 
and  so  on  right  down  the  scale  to  the  lowest. 

The  weakness  showed  itself  first  as  early  as  1781,  when 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     265 

the  Company  was  uuable  to  pay  the  interest  due  and  had 
to  ask  for  time.  Its  credit  was  gone.,  and  more  loans  could 
only  be  raised  under  State  guarantee.  The  States -General 
decided,  therefore,  to  send  a  "  commission  "  to  look  into  the 
affairs  ot  the  Company  and  appointed  six  commissioners. 

By  1793  the  Company  was  in  still  deeper  difficulties,  not 
having  sufficient  cash  to  carry  on  with,  and  having  a  debit 
of  112,000,000  guilders,  which  by  the  1st  March,  1796,  had 
become  120,000,000.  The  Government  therefore  appointed 
a  committee  to  take  over  the  affairs  and  management  of 
"  Netherlands  India."  The  old  Company  was  then  wound 
up,  and  a  new  body  called  the  "  Coimcil  for  Asiatic  Posses- 
sions and  Establishments  "  was  appointed  on  behalf  of  the 
State,  who  took  over  all  the  property  of  the  bankrupt 
Company,  together  with  its  debts,  in  1798.  The  new  body 
began  its  formal  functions  in  1800. 

The  dividends  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company  from 
1605,  as  will  be  shown  below,  were  erratic,  and  in  the  last 
years  they  were  paid  out  of  capital. 


Years. 

1605 

1606 
1607 
1608 
1609 
1610 


Per  cent. 
15 
75 
40 
20 
25 
75 
50 

*  In  this 
year  three 
dividends. 


1612 
1615 
1616 
1620 
1623 
1625 
1627 
1629 
1631 
1633 
1635 


57i 

42| 

62| 

37i 

25 

20 

m 

25 
17i 
20 
20 


In  what  manner 
paid. 

Money 


Mace 

Pepper 

Money 


Cloves 
Money 


Cloves 


Yeara. 

Per  cent. 

1635   . 

.12 

1836   . 

.25 

»> 

.  m  .. 

1637   . 

.15 

>»    • 

.25 

1638   . 

.19 

>>    • 

.25   .. 

1640   . 

.15 

f»    • 

.25 

1641   . 

.15 

99                     • 

.25 

1642   . 

.50 

1643   . 

.   15 

1644   . 

.25 

»> 

.20 

1646   . 

.  22J  . . 

>> 

.25 

1648   . 

.25 

1649   . 

.30 

1650   . 

.20 

1651   . 

.15 

1652   . 

.25 

1653   . 

.   12i  .. 

In  what  manner 
paid. 

Cloves 


Spices 

>» 
Cloves 
Money 
Cloves 

>> 

Money 

>» 
Cloves 


Money 


266 


JAVA 


Years. 

1654 
1655 
1656 
1658 
1659 
1660 
1661 
1663 
1665 
1668 
1669 
1670 
1671 

1672 
1673 


1676 
1679 


1680 
1681 
1682 
1685 
1686 
1687 
1688 
1689 
1690 
1691 
1692 
1693 
1694 
1695 
1696 
1697 

1698 

1699 

1700 
1701 
1702 
1703 
1704 
1705 
1706 
1707 
1708 
1709 
1710 


Per  cent. 

15 

12^ 

27^ 
40 

40 
25 
30 
27i 

m 

40 
45 
15 
15 
331 


25 

m 


25 

22J 
33^ 
40 

20 
33J 

40 
20 
25 
20 
20 
25 
15 
15 
15 
15 
15 
20 
16 
25 
20 
20 
25 
25 
25 
25 
25 
25 
25 
25 


In  what  manner 
paid. 

Money 


5* 

In  bonds  pay- 
able by  the 
province  of 
Holland. 

Bonds  at  4 
per  cent. 

Bonds  on 

Holland  at 
4  per  cent. 

Company's 
bonds. 

Money 


Bonds  of  the 
Company 
at  3 1  per 
cent.,  pay- 
able in 
1740. 


Money 


Tears. 

Per  cent. 

1711   . 

.25 

1712   . 

.15 

1713   . 

.30 

1714   . 

.   33i  .. 

1715   . 

.   40"   . . 

1716   . 

.40 

1717   . 

.40 

1718   . 

.40 

1719   . 

.40 

1720   . 

.40 

1721   . 

.   33i   .  . 

1722   . 

.30 

1723   . 

.   12i  .. 

1724   . 

.15 

1725   . 

.20 

1  1726   . 

.25 

1727   . 

.20 

1  1728   . 

.   15 

1729   . 

.12^.. 

1730   . 

.   12i   .. 

1731   . 

.   12i  .. 

1732   . 

.   12*   .. 

1733   . 

.   12|   .. 

1734   . 

.   12^   .. 

1  1735   . 

.   m  . . 

1  1736   . 

.   12J  .. 

j  1737   . 

.   12J  .. 

i  1738   . 

.12^.. 

1739   . 

.    m    •• 

1740   . 

.12^.. 

1741   . 

.   12i   .  . 

1742   . 

.12^.. 

1743   . 

.   12i  .. 

1744   . 

.   12.^   .. 

1745   . 

.   12i   .. 

i  1746   . 

.   12i   .. 

1747   . 

.12^.. 

1748   . 

.12^.. 

1749   . 

.  12h      .. 

1750   . 

.   12|   .. 

1751   . 

.    m    ■' 

1752   . 

.      12i   .. 

1753   . 

.   12^   .. 

1754   . 

.   m  ■■ 

1755   . 

.   m  .. 

1756   . 

.  J2i  .. 

1757   . 

.    i2i    . . 

1758   . 

.    m   •• 

1759   . 

.   12i   . . 

1760   . 

.   12A   .. 

1761   . 

.   12|   .. 

1762   . 

.   12^   .. 

1763   . 

.   121   .. 

1764   . 

.   12^   . . 

1765   . 

.   12*   .. 

1766   . 

.   12|   .. 

In  -what  manner 
paid. 

Money 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     267 


In  what  manner 

In  what  manner 

Years. 

Per  cent. 

paid. 

Years. 

Per  cent. 

paid. 

1767       . 

.      12J     . 

Money- 

1775      . 

.   m  . 

Money 

1768      . 

.   m  . 

1776      . 

.     12i     . 

1769      . 

.     \2h     . 

1777      . 

.      12|     . 

1770      . 

.      12|      . 

1778      . 

.   m  . 

1771      . 

.      Uh     . 

1779      . 

.     12^     . 

1772      . 

.      12|     . 

1780      . 

.      12^      . 

1773      . 

.      12i     .. 

1781      . 

.      12J      . 

1774      . 

.      12i     .. 

1782      . 

.      12.i      . 

The  Old  Dutch  East  India  Company. — Thus  ended  the 
good  old  Dutch  East  India  Company,  which  had  served  its 
day,  but  grown  antiquated  and  unscrupulously  dishonest, 
in  so  far  that  its  agents  had  been  more  intent  on  making 
money  for  themselves  than  for  their  employers.  The  old 
Company  was,  in  fact,  rotten  to  the  core,  and  had  become  a 
monstrous  creature  of  iniquity,  bribery,  and  corruption. 

The  organisation  and  framework  of  the  administration, 
however,  seem  to  have  been  good.  They  compare,  moreover, 
in  no  way  unfavourably  with  those  of  the  English  East  India 
Company  ;  and  had  it  nat  been  for  the  permission  for  private 
trade  on  the  part  of  its  servants  the  Company  might  have 
survived  long  after  it  did. 

Organisation  of  the  Company. — The  Company's  administra- 
tion was  divided  into  subordinate  governments,  who  all 
looked  to  Batavia  for  assistance  and  instructions.  The  pay 
of  the  officials  was,  however,  always  poor,  notwithstanding 
the  large  dividends  the  shareholders  were  making  in  the 
years  of  the  "  golden  age."  This  poor  pay  was  no  doubt 
originally  based  on  the  cheapness  of  the  cost  of  living  at 
Bantam  when  the  Company  was  first  installed  there,  and  no 
allowance  was  ever  made  for  the  greater  expense  of  living 
which  became  more  or  less  necessary  for  its  servants  when 
Batavia  was  opened,  and  much  splendour  kept  up,  to  uphold 
their  status  in  the  eyes  of  the  native  races,  but  also  for  their 
o"WTi  personal  comfort.  The  times  no  doubt  demanded  it, 
and  the  Company,  with  more  foresight,  should  have  in- 
creased their  scale  of  salaries.     This,  however,  was  not  done, 


268  JAVA 

and,  as  a  result,  bribery  and  corruption  to  meet  daily- 
expenses  was  the  order  of  the  day,  and  the  pockets  of  the 
officials  were  filled  at  the  expense  of  the  Company,  their 
servants  having  everything  to  gain  and  nothing  to  lose  by  it. 
The  divisions  for  government  in  1728  were  as  follows  : — 

(1)  Batavia,  with  its  large  castle,  capital  of  the  Dutch 
East  Indian  empire  :  a  governor-general.  All  other  gover- 
nors, factors  or  agents  subordinate.  Accounts-general  kept 
here.  The  governor-general  had  under  him  at  Batavia  a 
governor  and  council ;  at  Japan,  an  agent ;  at  Tonquin,  an 
agent ;  at  Macassar,  a  commandant ;  at  Bantam,  a  factory 
with  a  factor  ;  at  Siam,  an  agent ;  at  Japara,  a  factory  with 
a  factor  ;  at  Jambi,  an  agent ;  at  Palembang,  an  agent ;  at 
Arrakan,  an  agent. 

(2)  Amboyna :  a  governor  and  council,  responsible,  as 
usual,  to  Batavia.  A  number  of  islands,  with  agents,  under 
this  station.  A  yearly  pension  was  paid  to  the  inhabitants 
that  they  should  not  grow  cloves  or  other  spices. 

(3)  Banda :  a  governor  and  council.  A  number  of 
islands  subordinate.  Pension  paid  to  the  inhabitants  for 
them  to  destroj^  a  portion  of  their  spice-crops. 

(4)  Ternate  :  a  governor  and  council. 

(5)  Malacca  :   a  governor  and  council. 

(6)  Ceylon  (or  Zelon)  :  a  governor  and  council.  A  num- 
ber of  factories,  with  agents  and  factors  on  the  island.  All 
accounts  sent  to  Colombo,  which  was  the  capital. 

(7)  Cochin :  a  governor  and  council.  All  stations  and 
factories  on  the  Malabar  coast  subordinate  to  them. 

(8)  Policat  (Calicut)  :  a  governor  and  council,  under  whom 
all  stations  and  factories  on  the  Coromandel  and  Pegu  coasts 
were  subordinate. 

(9)  Bengal:  a  governor  (with  special  high  powers)  and 
council,  but  still  subordinate  to  Batavia,  whither  all  accounts 
were  sent.  All  factories  in  the  Bay  of  Bengal  subordinate 
to  them.    Hughh^  (or  Hooghly)  was  the  capital. 


KANDJENG  PAXGARAN  ARIO  JOEDO 
NEGOEO.  (adopted  SON  OF  THE 
SDLTAN.) 


kandjeng  pangaran  ario  adi ^kgoeo. 
(son  of  the  sultan  by  a  secon- 
dary WIFE.) 


goesti  pangaran  ario  boemi  noto. 
(brother  to  the  sultan.) 


GOESTI  PANGARAN  ADIPATI  MANGHOE 
BOEMI.  (brother  TO  THE  SULTAN. 
COLONEL-ADJUTANT  TO  THE  GOVER- 
NOR-GENERAL.) 


THE    DUTCH   IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     269 

(10)  Surat :  a  governor  and  council,  under  whom  were 
numerous  factories. 

(11)  Persia  :  a  governor  and  council.  The  chief  residence 
was  at  Gombroon,  but  estabUshments  at  Ispaha7i  and 
Bussorah. 

(12)  Cape  of  Good  Hope  :  a  governor  and  council,  and 
under  them  the  island  of  Mauritius  (or  Prince  Maurice). 

The  lowest  step  in  the  ladder  of  the  Company  was  that  of 
"  under-assistant,"  or  "  scrive  "  (writer)  ;  this  position  was 
filled  chiefly  by  soldiers,  generally  from  the  Guards,  which 
latter  were  supposed  to  be  better  educated  ;  their  pay  was 
£14  per  annum. 

Next  came  the  "  assistant,"  who  received  £20  per 
annum,  and  an  allowance  for  subsistence  (about  £6  per 
annum). 

After  the  "  assistants  "  came  the  "  upper  assistants," 
"  book-keepers,"  or  '*  secretaries  "  as  they  usually  were 
called.  They  were  paid  £28  to  £36  per  annum,  and  about 
£6  for  subsistence. 

Next  came  the  **  under-copeman  "  (or  "  koopman  "),  that 
is,  *'  salesman  "  ;  he  received  £36  to  £45  per  annum,  and 
about  £12  for  subsistence. 

Then  the  "  copeman,"  with  from  £50  to  £65  per  annum, 
and  about  £12  for  subsistence. 

Next  was  the  "  upper  copeman  "  (or  "  head  salesman  "), 
with  £80  to  £120  per  annum,  and  £18  for  subsistence. 

At  Batavia  and  in  Ceylon,  where  provisions  were  ex- 
ceptionally dear,  the  "  upper  copeman  "  stationed  there 
received  a  little  more  per  annum  for  subsistence  than  in  the 
other  places,  but  as  this  only  amounted  to  about  £1  per 
annum  it  was  of  no  importance. 

After  "  upper  copeman  "  came  "  commandore,"  with  a 
pay  of  £150  per  annum,  and  about  £40  per  annum  for  sub- 
sistence. 

Then  came  '*  commandant,"  who  was  of  sHghtly  less 


270  JAVA 

importance  than  a  "  commandore."     It  was  a  new  title  for 
a  junior  man. 

The  next  title  was  **  director,"  with  £200  salary,  and  £50 
for  subsistence. 

A  "  governor,"  or  a  member  of  the  governor-general's 
*'  council-extraordinary  for  India,"  received  the  same  pay. 

A  "  member  ordinary  "  of  the  council  at  Batavia  received 
£350  salary,  and  £150  for  subsistence. 

These  were  the  men  who  did  all  the  work. 

The  "  governor-general  "  of  Batavia  received  £1,200,  and 
about  £300  for  subsistence.  Besides  this,  every  time  he 
called  upon  the  fleet  he  had  £100  as  a  gratuity.  This 
was  supposed  to  be  done  when  a  squadron  sailed  for 
Europe. 

All  persons  in  the  service  of  the  Company,  whether 
merchants,  clerics,  civil  magistrates,  soldiers  or  seamen, 
were  ranked  in  degrees. 

The  "  governor-general  "  was  allowed  wine  and  all  other 
liquors  and  provisions  from  the  Company's  warehouse  to 
what  extent  he  desired.  All  the  other  officials  down  to  the 
assistants,  according  to  their  rank,  were  allowed  a  certain 
quantity  of  liquor,  spices,  oil,  wood,  rice,  vinegar,  and 
candles. 

The  "  upper  copeman  "  received  monthly  a  special  allow- 
ance of  Spanish  wine  and  white  wine,  24  lbs.  of  wax  for 
candles,  corn  for  his  poultry,  and  rice  for  his  slaves.  This 
special  treatment  was  due  to  the  fact  that  the  selling  of 
the  Company's  goods  was  entirely  left  to  him,  and  he 
could  accept  what  price  he  chose  from  the  Chinese  mer- 
chants. 

A  common  soldier,  or  private  sentinel,  received  £9  to  £14 
per  annum. 

A  sergeant  received  the  same  pay  and  subsistence  allow- 
ance as  an  "  assistant,"  an  ensign  the  same  as  a  "  copeman," 
and  a  captain  the  same  as  an  "  upper  copeman." 


THE   DUTCH   IN   JAVA,   1623   TO   1811     271 

A  major  ranked  with  a  "  commandore,"  and  received  the 
same  pay  and  conditions. 

There  seem  to  have  been  only  three  majors  in  the  East, 
one  at  Batavia  and  the  others  in  Ceylon  aAd  Amboyna. 

The  seamen  were  also  ranked  in  a  very  similar  way  to 
the  soldiers. 

The  clergymen  were  also  ranked ;  first  came  the 
"  preacher  "  (he  received  the  same  pay  as  an  "  upper 
copeman  ")  ;  then  the  "  dominees,"  or  "  visitors  to  the 
sick,"  who  received  the  same  pay  as  an  "  assistant." 

A  surgeon's  pay  was  £40  to  £50  per  annum. 

The  "  assistants  "  were  under  contract  to  remain  in  their 
positions  five  years,  which  through  ill-health  could  be 
reduced  to  three  ;  they  might  then  leave  the  service  or 
receive  promotion  (if  they  had  a  mark  of  merit),  as  they 
might  wish. 

The  Company  found  accommodation  for  all  their  servants. 

Everything  seems  to  have  been  well  and  methodically 
arranged. 

At  every  castle  or  factory  a  day  register  was  kept,  in 
which  everything  of  importance  was  noted,  a  copy  of  it 
being  sent  with  the  accounts  to  Batavia  and  Amsterdam. 

There  was  a  chamber  for  protecting  the  interests  of 
the  orphans.  There  was,  too,  a  body  to  look  after  the 
poor. 

Money  in  the  "  Court  of  Chancery  "  was  given  9  per  cent, 
interest,  and  lent  by  the  court,  at  their  own  risk,  to  civilians 
or  others  at  12  per  cent. 

The  old  papers  and  documents  show  that  the  administra- 
tion of  the  country,  the  welfare  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the 
general  conduct  of  all  the  of&cials  was,  speaking  broadly, 
fairly  good.  Theirs  was  a  great  task,  and  it  was,  for  the 
times,  well  performed. 

As  already  stated,  the  foundations  of  this  organisation 
were  undoubtedly  good,  but  the  material  for  the  administra- 


272  JAVA 

tion  was  generally  poor,  the  riff-raff  of  Holland  often  being 
sent  to  Java.  The  Dutch  have  proved,  however,  the 
wisdom  of  their  early  measures  in  the  days  of  the  old  Com- 
pany, for  many  of  them  are  in  force  to  this  day. 

There  may,  of  course,  have  been  times  when  the  Dutch 
laid  themselves  open  to  severe  criticism,  like  all  the  nations, 
but  the  age  was  rough  and  the  methods  uncouth  ;  great 
allowances  must  be  made,  and  actions  must  not  be  measured 
by  twentieth  century  standards. 

Marshal  Herman  Willem  Daendels  as  Governor-General. — 
Between  1794  and  1797,  when  the  army  of  the  French 
Republic  carried  all  before  it  and  the  conquest  of  Holland 
was  completed,  one  Herman  Willem  Daendels,  a  Dutchman, 
who  had  been  obhged  to  leave  Holland  for  some  political 
offence,  waited  upon  Napoleon  and  suggested  his  forming  a 
large  French  colony  in  the  East  and  making  Java  his 
base  for  seizing  British  India.  The  idea  was  favourably 
received,  but  Napoleon  had  then  no  time  to  carry  out  large 
plans  for  expansion  in  the  East,  as  his  hands  were  full  and 
the  English  were  beginning  to  make  preparations  for 
worrying  him  in  Europe.  He  was,  however,  willing  to 
consider  it,  and  here,  for  the  time,  the  idea  ended. 

In  1808,  however,  Daendels  was  sent  to  Java  as  governor- 
general  by  special  appointment  from  Napoleon.  He  had 
also  "  special  instructions,"  for  various  abuses  had  again 
crept  into  the  administration  of  the  East  Indies,  and  the 
Government  wished  to  remove  them.  In  some  ways  it 
could  not  have  chosen  a  better  man  than  Daendels,  for, 
although  his  temper  was  fiery  and  his  character  erratic,  he 
had  a  will  of  iron,  and  he  saw  that  his  orders  were  carried 
out  to  the  very  letter,  which  was  what  the  Government  at 
home  needed.  On  the  other  hand,  like  many  great  men, 
he  went  too  far,  and  mistakes  were  made  which  led  to  the 
recall  of  Daendels  ;  but  whether  he  or  the  home  Government 
were  to  blame  is  as  yet  not  clear.    Probably  there  were 


THE   DUTCH   IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     273 

faults  on  both  sides.  He  arrived  at  a  difficult  time,  and  was 
severely  handicapped. 

A  year  or  so  before  Daendels'  arrival  the  British  Admiral, 
Pellew,  arrived  in  Java  (1806),  sought  out  the  Dutch 
squadrons,  and  destroyed  the  main  units  at  Batavia, 
Sourabaya,  and  Gressie. 

Daendels'  first  task  was  to  place  the  defences  in  order, 
for  instead  of  the  Dutch  attacking  the  English  in  British 
India  it  was  the  English  who  might  at  any  moment  sweep 
down  on  Java  and  attack  him.  The  French  flag  was  now 
hoisted  by  him  for  the  first  time  at  Batavia. 

Daendels  now  became  most  active  and  unremitting  in  his 
exertions  ;  after  the  fall  of  Mauritius  he  did  not  doubt 
Java's  turn  would  be  next,  and  amongst  the  Dutch  colonists 
in  Java  there  was  a  kind  of  reign  of  terror,  for  they  felt 
that  now  Holland  was  a  French  department  their  fate  lay 
between  the  English  and  the  French,  and  they  did  not  know 
which  they  preferred. 

Daendels  marshalled  the  army,  which  seems  to  have 
consisted  of  about  thirty  thousand  men. 


Cavalry  (one  regiment  of  five  squadrons) 

1,200 

Infantry  (seven  regiments  of  three  battalions  of 

five  companies  each)           .... 

21,000 

Artillery       ....... 

3,000 

Chasseurs     ....... 

3,000 

Horse  artillery      ...... 

1,000 

Total 

29,200 

Besides  which  there  were  about  two  thousand  natives, 
armed  with  pikes,  from  Timor  and  Bali.  These  troops 
Daendels  concentrated  for  the  most  part  at  Weltevreden, 
outside  Batavia. 

The  fortifications  of  old  Batavia  were  dismantled,  stores, 
ammunition,  and  archives  being  removed ;  while  an 
endeavour  was  made  to  force  the  inhabitants  to  desert  it 

J.— VOL.  I.  T 


274  JAVA 

likewise.  The  seat  of  the  Government  was  moved  to 
Buitenzorg,  a  hill  station  forty  miles  outside  Batavia, 
situated  in  what  in  those  days  were  called  the  Blue  Moun- 
tains. 

Weltevreden  was  made  a  military  post  of  first  importance 
— a  fortified  camp,  so  to  say — and  at  Meester  Cornehs,  on 
the  main  road  to  Buitenzorg,  a  strong  fort  was  erected,  with 
batteries  which  commanded  the  country  around. 

A  fortress  was  also  built  at  Marah  Bay,  in  the  west  of 
Bantam,  being  a  likely  place  for  the  enemy  to  land  ;  this, 
however,  was  destroyed  by  the  British  fleet  before  it  was 
even  completed.  It  was  intended  to  hold  three  thousand 
soldiers,  but  the  spot  was  such  an  unhealthy  one  that  it  is 
very  doubtful  whether  any  could  have  lived  there.  The 
first  thousand  Javan  workmen  from  Bantam  died  off  here 
in  a  very  short  time  from  fever.  A  demand  was  therefore 
sent  to  the  Sultan  of  Bantam  for  a  second  party  of  a  thousand 
men,  but  exemption  was  requested  on  account  of  the  un- 
healthiness  of  the  bay.  Daendels,  however,  would  not  hear 
of  it  and  threatened  to  remove  the  Sultan,  whereupon  the 
Bantamese  rose,  seized  the  European  guard  at  the  Sultan's 
palace,  and  stabbed  the  Dutch  resident,  Du  Pay,  to  death 
as  he  was  leaving  the  Sultan's  palace  after  an  extremely 
violent  altercation.  Daendels  now  marched  to  Bantam 
with  a  force  and  surrounded  the  palace,  planting  his  artillery 
so  as  to  command  it.  He  now  rode  inside  alone  and  ordered 
the  Sultan  to  come  out  to  receive  him,  which  he  did.  Daen- 
dels' next  step  was  to  enter  the  throne-room  with  his  suite 
and  sit  on  the  Sultan's  throne.  The  palace  was  now  plun- 
dered by  the  Dutch  troops,  and  Bantam  was  annexed  by  the 
Government.  It  w^as  several  years,  however,  before  this 
residency  was  pacified. 

Fort  Ludowyck  w^as  next  erected  to  command  the  Straits 
of  Grissee,  and  mihtary  roads  of  great  length  were  con- 
structed at  a  prodigious  loss  of  life. 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     275 

Daendels  next  had  trouble  with  the  Sultan  of  Djockja- 
karta,^  whither  he  proceeded  in  person,  and  by  his  energy 
and  personal  pluck  soon  settled  the  matter.  His  ways  were 
high-handed,  but  the  results  always  satisfactory. 

Before  his  term  of  governor-generalship  was  over  Java 
was  being  harassed  by  British  cruisers,  who  controlled  all 
the  main  routes  and  the  bulk  of  the  stations  on  the  outside 
islands.  Consequently  the  trade  of  the  island  was  restricted 
and  the  coasting  trade  had  completely  died.  Under  this 
paralysing  influence  the  internal  trade  of  Java  suffered  also, 
and  Daendels  has  been  severely  blamed  for  not  having  done 
more  to  rectify  this  state  of  affairs  than  he  did. 

Arrival  of  Governor-General  Janssens. — Towards  the  end 
of  1810  very  adverse  reports  must  have  reached  Napoleon 
regarding  Daendels,  for  Jan  Willem  Janssens  was  sent  out 
to  Java  early  in  1811,  with  special  orders  peremptorily 
calling  on  Daendels  to  resign  the  Government  at  twenty- 
four  hours'  notice,  and  instructing  him  to  embark  for  France 
immediately,  no  reasons  being  given. 

Departure  of  Daendels. — It  was  scarcely  with  any  feelings 
of  regret  that  the  European  inhabitants,  civihans  and 
ofi&cials  alike,  saw  Daendels  depart,  for  he  was  hated  by  all 
with  an  intensity  difficult  to  describe,  being  looked  upon,  in 
fact,  by  some  as  a  monster  in  disguise.  Lord  Minto's 
strictures  upon  Daendels  are  plain  and  unvarnished  : — 

"  Daendels  was  a  wretch  in  every  imaginable  way,  one  of  the 
monsters  which  the  worst  times  of  the  French  Revolution 
engendered,  or  rather  hfted  from  the  mud  at  the  bottom  to 
flounce  and  figure  away  their  hour  upon  the  surface.  He  was 
greedy,  corrupt,  and  rascally  in  amassing  money  for  himself, 
and  equaUy  unjust  and  oppressive  in  procuring  pubHc  supphes. 
He  was  cruel,  and  regardless  of  men's  hves  beyond  most  of  the 
revolutionary  tyrants  in  the  reign  of  terror.  He  ordered  two 
Javanese  princes,  confined  by  him  as  state  prisoners,  to  be 
privately  murdered,  and  became  savage  from  the  delay  which 

^  Old  Jayan  spelling,  Joggakerta. 

T    2 


276  JAVA 

arose  from  the  scruples  of  the  officer  in  whose  custody  they  were, 
a  Providential  delay,  for  Janssens  arrived  in  the  interval,  and 
passing  through  the  place  on  his  way  to  Batavia,  saved  the 
victims.  Daendels  was  as  great  a  brute  as  tyrant  in  his  pleasures, 
and  no  man's  family  was  safe.  In  short,  none  of  the  worst  of 
the  Roman  pro-consuls  ever  vexed  and  scourged  their  provinces, 
too  distant  for  control,  with  more  extortion  and  cruelty  than  this 
villain." 

On  the  other  hand,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  Daendels 
arrived  at  a  time  when  everything  was  abnormal,  and  that 
he  had  many  disadvantages  continually  to  struggle  against. 
On  his  arrival  in  Java  he  apparently  foresaw  trouble  and 
criticisms,  and  in  a  despatch  to  the  home  Government  he 
described  the  situation  very  vividly  as  follows  : — 

"  A  powerful  enemy  threatened  us  by  sea,  and  the  Javan 
princes,  acquiring  audacity  in  proportion  as  they  saw  proofs  of 
our  weakness,  thought  the  moment  had  arrived  for  prescribing 
the  law  to  their  former  superiors.  The  very  existence  of  our 
dominions  in  Java  was  thus  in  the  greatest  danger.  Our  internal 
resources  of  finance  were  exhausted,  while  a  stagnation  of  trade 
caused  by  the  blockade  of  our  shores  cut  ofi  all  hopes  of  procuring 
assistance  from  without.  In  the  midst  of  such  disastrous  circum- 
stances and  the  failure  of  so  many  attempts  to  introduce  reform, 
and  to  maintain  the  dignity  of  government,  /  found  it  necessary 
to  place  myself  above  the  usual  formalities,  and  to  disregard  every 
law  hut  that  which  enjoined  the  'preservation  of  the  colony  entrusted 
to  my  management.  The  verbal  order  which  I  received  at  my 
departure  from  Holland  had  this  for  its  object,  and  the  approba- 
tion bestowed  upon  my  ear  by  attempts  to  carry  it  into  execution 
encouraged  me  in  the  course  of  proceedings  which  I  had  begun." 

Moluccas  once  more  under  the  Control  of  the  English. — In 
1810  the  Moluccas  came  once  more  under  the  control  of  the 
Enghsh,  who  sent  an  expedition  to  Amboyna,  which  was  the 
capital  and  seat  of  government  of  all  the  Spice  Islands. 

The  fort  here,  held  by  a  garrison  of  six  hundred  Dutch 
soldiers,  mounted  sixty  cannon. 

The  capture  of  this  place  by  the  small  squadron  under 


THE    DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO   1811     277 

Captain  Edward  Tucker,  of  H.M.S.  Dover,  was  a  meritorious 
deed. 

The  troops  employed  in  this  service  landed  at  2  p.m.  on 
the  16th  February,  1810.     They  consisted  of : — 

Detachment  Madras  Artillery,  under  Lieu- 
tenant Stewart       .....  46  men. 
Madras  European  Regiment        .          .          .  130     „ 
Seamen,  Royal  Marines  of  H.M.S.  Dover       .  85     ,, 
,,                 „             oi^M.S.  Cornwallis.  105     ,, 
Seamen  of  H.M.  sloop  Samarang          .          .  38     „ 

Total  .  .     404 

Captain  Court,  attended  by  Captains  Philhps  and  Forbes, 
had  previously  reconnoitred  the  enemy's  position,  and  there- 
fore knew  where  was  the  best  place  to  land  ;  and  under  cover 
of  a  tremendous  fire  from  the  squadron,  which  bombarded 
the  fort  in  line  of  battle  up  the  harbour,  the  landing  party 
endeavoured  to  rush  the  fort.  Next  morning  a  summons 
was  sent  to  Governor  Lavinius  Hankurlugt  to  surrender,  and 
a  reply  was  returned  by  Colonel  Fitz,  the  military  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  Moluccas,^  and  the  fort  was  surren- 
dered on  the  19th  February. 

Afterwards  an  interesting  scene  took  place,  when  the 
British  landing  party  was  drawn  up  outside  the  fort  to  wait 
for  the  Dutch  force  of  Europeans  and  Malay  soldiers,  with 
the  crews  of  several  vessels,  to  come  out ;  the  latter  marched 
in  order  four  deep  from  the  fort  and  outflanked  the  British 
by  double  the  length  of  their  hne.  When  this  was  discovered 
their  vexation  and  mortification  was  great,  for  they  had,  so 
to  say,  been  beaten  by  a  handful  of  men.  Execrations  were 
vented,  and  several  of  the  officers  broke  their  swords  in 
anger,  whilst  the  rank  and  file  wanted  to  receive  their  arms 
back  to  begin  fighting  again. 

1  As  soon  as  Colonel  Fitz  arrived  at  Batavia  he  was  shot  for  surrendering 
this  post  by  Governor- General  Daendels. 


278  JAVA 

Ternate  taken  by  the  English. — Ternate  was  taken  by 
Captain  Tucker  on  the  28th  August  of  the  same  year,  with 
the  following  force  under  Captain  David  Forbes : — 

Madras  European  Regiment  of  Artillery  .  74  men. 

Amboynese  Corps        .         .          .         .  .  32     ,, 

Royal  Marines    .          .          .          .          .  *      .  36     ,, 

Seamen      .          .          .          .          .          .  .  32     ,, 

Total  .  .174 

The  fort  Kays  Meirah,  commanded  by  the  governor, 
Colonel  Mittman,  received  a  summons  from  H.M.S.  Dover 
to  surrender,  but  returned  a  spirited  answer.  Next  day 
Captain  Forbes,  accompanied  by  Lieutenants  Jefferies, 
Royal  Navy,  Higginson,  Royal  Marines,  and  Forbes  and 
Curshaw,  of  the  Madras  Service,  placed  ladders  against  the 
fort,  after  having  crossed  the  ditch  under  a  heavy  grape  fire, 
escaladed  the  walls,  and  carried  it,  killing  a  number  of  the 
garrison,  and  taking  the  governor  and  sixty-eight  men 
prisoners. 

The  British  loss  was  the  sergeant-major  and  two  privates 
killed,  and  one  lieutenant,  one  sergeant,  one  seaman,  one 
guide,  and  twelve  privates  wounded. 

The  other  forts  in  the  neighbourhood,  Kota  Baroo  and 
Fort  Orange,  were  then  silenced  by  H.M.S.  Dover  and 
hoisted  a  flag  of  truce. 

On  the  31st  August  all  the  forts  and  batteries  of  Ternate 
surrendered.  These  works  were  defended  by  ninety- two 
guns  of  heavy  calibre,  five  hundred  regular  troops,  of  which 
many  were  Europeans,  besides  a  number  of  civihans,  and  a 
large  body  of  soldiers  suppHed  by  the  rajahs  there. 

All  the  stations  dependent  on  Amboyna  naturally 
followed  the  same  course,  and  were  taken  possession  of  by 
H.M.S.  Cornwallis.  This  ship  (on  the  evening  of  the 
1st  March)  saw  a  strange  sail  under  an  island  called  Amblaw, 
and  sent  Lieutenant  Peachey,  Mr.  Garland  (master),  and 


THE   DUTCH   IN   JAVA,    1623   TO   1811     279 

Mr.  Sanderson  (master's  mate)  to  proceed  in  the  yawl  and 
find  out  to  what  nation  she  belonged.  On  drawing  near 
they  found  she  was  the  Margaretta  Louisa,  a  Dutch  man-of- 
war  under  Captain  G.  Ruyter,  with  eight  guns  and  forty 
men.  Lieutenant  Peachey  under  fire  boarded  the  ship  with 
his  men  and  captured  her  with  a  loss  of  five  men  wounded, 
whilst  the  Dutch  lost  one  officer  killed  and  twenty  men 
wounded. 

Ceram  taken  hy  the  English. — Ceram  was  also  taken,  and  it 
was  here  that  Captain  Blanckenhagen,  of  the  Bengal  Service, 
lost  his  life  in  an  unsuccessful  attack  on  a  refractory  Rajah. 

Banda  taken. — H.M.S.  Cornwallis,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Christopher  Cole,  seized  Banda,  in  spite  of  con- 
siderable difficulties,  in  August  of  the  same  year,  and  named 
the  fort  "  Fort  Drury  "  after  the  British  admiral. 

These  were  the  few  preliminaries  to  the  arrival  of  the 
British  expedition  which  Governor-General  Janssens  and 
the  Dutch  inhabitants  were  daily  expecting. 


NOTES  TO   CHAPTER  VI 

Note  I. — List  of  the  Early  English  Expeditions  to  Java 
AND  the  East  Indies  during  the  First  Years  of  the 
East  India  Company's  Existence. 


Date  of 
Departure 

from 
England. 


Voyage  of 
Company's 

Ships. 


Commander. 


Xame  of 
Ships. 


1677, 
Nov.  5 


1586, 
July  10 


1691 


Francia  Drake  i  ^ 


Thoina8  Caven- 
George  Raymond 


Hind 
Elizabeth 
Marigold 
Swan 

Christopher 
Desire 
Content 
Hiigh  Gal- 
lant 
Penelope 


100 
80 
30 
50 
15 

140 
60 

40 


Arrived  Moluccas,  Nov.  8, 

1578 
Arrived  Bantam,  Feb.  8, 

1579 

Arrived  Bantam,  March 

1,  1587 
Left  Bantam,  March  16, 

1587 
Lost  off  the  Cape  with  all 

hves 


^  Afterwards  knighted. 

*  See  account  of  voyage  in  Chapters  IV.  and  X. 


280 


JAVA 


Note  I 

, — (continued) . 

Date  of 

Voyage  of 

Company's 

Ships. 

Departure 

from 
England. 

Commander. 

Name  of 
Ships. 

Tons. 

Rpinarks. 

1591 

— 

James  Lancaster 

Edward 
Bonadven- 

— 

1 

1  Arrived  Acheen,  1592 

hire 

— 

)■  Sent  back  from  Cape  with 

Merchant 

1      sick 

Royal    . 

— 

J 
Arrived     Acheen,     Nov. 

1601 

First     . 

James  Lancaster  * 

Red  Dragon 

600 

1602  (arrived  Bantam, 

Hector 

300 

Dec.  16,  1602) 

Sussanah 

200 

{  Sent  back  from  Acheen 

Ascension 

200 

with   pepper   and   de- 

Guest 

130 

spatches 
1  Sent  to  the  Moluccas 
^  Arrived  Bantam,  Dec.  20, 

1603 

Second 

Henry     Middle- 
ton  i  2  3 

Red  Dragon 
Hector 

600 
300 

1604 

Left  Bantam,  Oct.  4, 
<       1605 

Henry  Middleton  ex- 
tended the  Company's 

Sussanah 
Ascension 

?200 
?200 

trade  to  Banda 

1604, 

— 

Edward   Michel- 

Tiger 

246 

Arrived  Bantam,  Oct.  28 

Dec.  5 

borne  8  * 

Tiger's 

1605 

Whelp   . 

50 

Left    Bantam,    Nov.    1, 
1605,  for  Bata\aa 

Another 

ship 

— 

Third    . 

William  Keeling  ^ 

Red  Dragon 

600 

Arrived  Bantam,  Oct.  4, 

1607, 

1608 

April  1  1 

William  Hawkins 

Hector 

300 

Arrived      Bantam      via 

Surat 

Arrived    Bantam,    Nov. 

March  12 

— 

David  Middleton » 

Consent     . 

115 

14,  1607 
Left    Bantam,    Dec.    6, 
1607,  for  the  Moluccas 

All    three    ships    loaded 

pepper  and  returned  to 

England 

1608? 

Fourth  . 

Sharpey  or  Shar- 
peigh  5 

Ascension 

Visited  Diu,  and  ship  was 
wrecked  here  ;  came  in 
another  ship  to   Ban- 
tam 

1  Afterwards  knighted. 

2  There  had  been  no  ships  for  the  English  factory  for  two  years. 
®  See  account  of  voyage  in  Chapter  X. 

*  Michelborne,  when  he  arrived  in  the  East,  instead  of  trying  to  find  new 
ports  for  trade,  appears  to  have  followed  the  pernicious  example  of  the 
Portuguese  in  plundering  the  native  traders  among  the  islands  of  the 
archipelago.  By  this  means  he  secured  great  booty,  but  brought  great 
disgrace  on  the  British  name,  and  thus  hindered  the  Company's  business  at 
Bantam. 

^  Some  give  WiUiam  Keeling  as  in  command  of  the  Ascension  ;  even 
Sir  G.  Birdwood,  on  p.  208  of  "  Report  on  the  Old  Records  of  the  India 
Office,"  does  so.     I  believe  this  is  incorrect. 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1623   TO    1811     281 

Note  I, — {continued). 


Date  of 
Departure 

from 
England 


1609, 
April  24 

1610 


1610, 
Jan.  3 


1611, 
April  18 


Voyage  of 

Company 

Ships. 


1612 

1612 
1614 

1615 


Fifth     . 
Sixth     . 

Seventh 
Eighth  . 


Ninth    . 

Tenth    . 
Eleventh 

Twelfth. 


Commander. 


Richard  Rowles 


David  Middleton  i 


Sir  Henry  Middle 

ton  2 

Nicholas  Daunton 
or  Down  ton 


Name  of 
Ships. 


Tons. 


Anthony 
Hippon 


John  Saris  ' 


Edmund  Mar- 
lowe * 


Thomas  Best 
John  Milward    . 


Christopher  New- 
port 


Union 


Expedition 


Trades 
Increase    . 
Peppercorn 
Darling     . 


Globe 

Clove 
Hector 

Thomas     .      — 


James 


Hoseander  ^ 
Hector  I 
James  j 

Solomon  J 
Solomon    . 

James 


Expedition 


Remarks. 


Loaded  with  pepper  at 
Priaman,  on  coast  of 
Sumatra,  and  was  lost 
on  her  way  home  off 
coast 

Took  in  a  cargo  at 
Puloway.  Left  Nov. 
16,  1610,  for  England 

Arrived  Bantam,  Oct.  9, 
1610 

Sir  Henry  Middleton 
loaded  the  two  ships 
with  pepper  and  spice 
and  sent  them  home 

Arrived  Bantam,  April 
26, 1612,  having  visited 
Siam  and  Malay 
Peninsula 

Arrived  Bantam,  Oct.  24, 
1612 

Left  Bantam,  Jan.  14, 
1613,  leaving  ten  men 
behind 

Returned  to  Bantam, 
Jan.  3,  1614;  found 
only  five  of  his  men 
alive 

Arrived  Bantam,  Dec.  20, 
1612 

Left  Bantam,  Feb.  4, 
1613 

Visited  India 


Arrived  Bantam,  Feb.  14, 

1615 
Left  Bantam,  March  14, 

1615 
Globe    arrived     Jan.     3, 

1615;     left    Feb.    22, 

1615 
Visited  India 

This  was  the  last  separate 
voyage  of  the  Com- 
pany. After  this  came 
"  joint  stock  "  voyages 


'  See  account  of  voyage  in  Chapter  X. 

2  Died  at  Matsjan,  in  the  Moluccas,  in  1615,  from  broken  heart,  caused 
by  sorrow  at  the  ill-luck  of  factories  in  the  Moluccas. 
^  Died  Bantam,  the  5th  August,  1615. 


282 


JAVA 

Note  I. — {continued). 


Date  of 
Departure 

from 
England. 


1616 


1617 


1618 


1619 
1620 


Voyage  of 

Company's 

Ships. 


Commander, 


Eichard  Hunt    . 


Martin  Pring 


Thomas  Dale 


Name  of 
Ships. 


Tons. 


Remarks. 


Five  ships 


Six  ships 


Three  ships 
Six  ships  . 


Attacked  Hollanders  at 
Bantam,  but  was 
wounded  in  three 
places  and  died  July 
24,  1617 

Arrived  Bantam,  July  19, 
1618 

Arrived  Jacatra,  Sept.  2, 
1618 

Left  Jacatra,  Oct.  31, 
1618 

Arrived  Bantam,  Nov. 
22,  1618 

Arrived  Jacatra,  Dec.  17, 
1618 

Admiral  Dale  died 
Masuhpatam,  Aug.  19, 
1619 

Admiral  Pring  remained 
at  Bantam  till  July, 
1620,  and  then  sailed 
with  two  ships  to 
Japan 

Arrived  Bantam 

Arrived  Bantam 

At  end  of  1618,  begin 
1619,  Dale  attacked 
Hollanders  at  Batavia 
with  eight  ships,  whilst 
Pring,  with  six  ships, 
watched  the  Straits  of 
Sunda  to  prevent  any 
new  Dutch  ships  pass- 
ing to  their  friends' 
assistance.  Pring  had 
no  success,  however 


Note  II. — ^A  List  showing  wheee  the  English  have  possessed 
Factories  at  Different  Times  in  the  East  Indies  before 
1811. 

Malay  Peninsula. — Siam,  Cochin  China,  Pegu,  Quedah,  Johore, 
Camodia,  Patany,  and  Ligore. 

Island  of  Sumatra. — Acheen,  Jambee,  Passaman,  Priaman, 
Sillebar,  Ticcoo,  Fort  York,  Bencoolen  or  Fort  Marlborough, 
Idapur,  Tyamong,  and  Padang. 

Island  of  Java. — Bantam,  Japara,  Jacatra  (later  called 
Batavia),  Balambangan,  and  Aujer. 


THE   DUTCH    IN   JAVA,    1628   TO    1811     283 

Island  of  Borneo. — ^Banjarmassin,  Succadana,  and  Sambas. 

Island  of  Celebes. — ^Macassar  and  Menado. 

Molvxxas. — ^Lantore,  or  Great  Banda,  islands  of  Rosengyn,  and 
Puloway,  Island  of  Amboyna  and  Pulo  Boon  (the  East  India 
Company's  own  Property). 


Note  III. — 1811. — ^Members  of  the  Dutch  Government  just 

BEFORE   THE   ARRIVAL   OF   THE   ENGLISH. 

Herman  Willem  Daendels,  Governor-General. 

Nicolaus  Engelhard,  Governor  of  the  Eastern  Districts  in  Java. 

J.  A.  van  Braam,  President  of  the  Supreme  Comicil. 

W.  H.  van  Ysseldyk,  Director -General  and  Member  of  Council. 

P.  T.  Chasse,  Director -General  and  Member  of  Council. 


W.  van  Hoesen, 

H.  A.  Parve, 

W.  Wardenaar, 

J.  C.  Romswinckel, 

W.  A.  Senn  van  Basel, 

F.  J.  Rothenbuhler, 

H.  W.  Muntinghe, 

W.  V.  H.  van  Riemsdyk, 

M.  Q.  A.  Canter  Visscher, 

J.  M.  Baljee, 

J.  J.  Vogelaar, 


1 


j.   Members  of  Council. 


THE    BRITISH    PERIOD 


CHAPTER  VII 

LIFE   OF   SIR   THOMAS    STAMFORD   RAFFLES 

It  would  be  inappropriate  to  proceed  further  in  this 
history  before  giving  an  account  of  the  Hfe  of  that  great 
statesman,  empire  maker,  administrator,  and  naturahst, 
founder  of  the  colony  and  city  of  Singapore,  and  maintainor 
of  British  supremacy  and  honour  in  the  East  Indian  Archi- 
pelago at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  Sir 
Thomas  Stamford  Raffles. 

Thomas  Stamford  Raffles  was  born  at  sea  on  board  the 
ship  Ann  in  the  harbour  of  Port  Morant,  Jamaica,  on  the 
5th  July,  1781.  He  was  the  only  son  of  Benjamin  Raffles, 
one  of  the  oldest  captains  in  the  East  India  trade,  from  the 
port  of  London,  a  man  of  good  birth  and  education  ;  and 
his  mother  was  a  Dutch  lady  born  in  Amsterdam,  Miss 
Lindemann.  Raffles'  grandfather  held  a  high  Government 
position  with  an  unblemished  reputation. 

The  family  came  from  Beverley,  Yorkshire,  where  the 
name  Raffles  frequently  occurs  in  the  old  registers  for  up- 
wards of  three  centuries. 

After  education  at  a  school  at  Hammersmith,  he  secured 
a  position  in  the  year  1795  as  an  extra  clerk  in  the  East 
India  House.  He  was  at  the  time  only  fourteen  years  of 
age,  consequently  his  education  could  not  have  been  com- 
pleted. However,  the  deficiency  was  made  up  by  his  own 
exertions  in  the  few  leisure  hours  a  close  attendance  at  office 
permitted. 

Stamford  Raffles  was  early  remarked  for  his  assiduity  and 
great  application  to  business.  He  displayed  the  thoughtful- 
ness  and  vigour  of  mind,  fertility  in  resource,  punctuality  and 


288  JAVA 

devotion  to  his  duties,  and  several  other  attributes  which 
distinguished  him  in  after  years,  and  which  placed  him  above 
all  his  colleagues. 

His  mind  was  a  high  and  noble  one,  but  few  understood 
him  or  his  intense  earnestness  and  desire  to  achieve  a  great 
name  and  position ;  and  he  regarded  appreciation  and 
recognition  of  his  services,  like  all  high-minded  men,  above 
anything  else  obtainable. 

In  1805  the  Court  of  Directors  of  the  East  India  Office 
decided  on  sending  out  an  establishment  to  Penang,  or,  as  it 
was  then  known.  Prince  of  Wales  Island,  and  one  of  the 
departmental  chiefs,  being  aware  of  the  peculiar  fitness  and 
talents  of  Raffles  for  office,  mentioned  his  name  to  Sir  Hugh 
Inglis,  who  from  this  strong  recommendation  gave  him  the 
appointment  of  assistant  secretary  of  the  new  establishment, 
Mr.  Philip  Dundas  being  appointed  Governor,  Mr.  John 
Oliphant  first  member  of  Council,  and  Mr.  Pearson  secretary. 
A  number  of  civilians  who  desired  to  open  up  trade  there  also 
went,  many  of  whom  succeeded  in  making  fortunes. 

Raffles  arrived  at  Penang  in  September,  1805,  in  the  Com- 
pany's ship  Ganges,  which  was  commanded  by  Captain 
Harrington,  a  brother  of  the  late  member  of  Council  at 
Bengal.  Before  he  arrived  he  was  master  of  the  Malay 
language. 

Ten  years'  practice  and  experience  in  the  India  House 
gave  the  assistant  secretary  many  advantages  over  his 
fellows  in  the  new  Government,  and  he  appears  to  have 
immediately  made  his  value  felt  in  the  new  colony.  He 
was  very  fond  of  the  Malays,  and  devoted  his  spare  hours 
to  the  study  of  their  manners,  customs  and  character,  and 
among  them,  for  his  courteous  and  amiable  demeanour,  he 
soon  became  esteemed.  His  house  was  always  open  to 
them,  and  the  natives  delighted  to  visit  a  man  who  would 
condescend  to  be  polite  and  take  an  interest  in  their  affairs. 
Through  the  advantages  derived  from  this  intercourse  and 


SIK    THOMAS    sT.\MhOKl>    KAI••|•LK^ 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.   RAFFLES  289 

his  evening  labours,  Baffles  was  enabled  to  distinguish 
himself  when  the  opportunity,  which  was  not  long  delayed, 
presented  itself. 

The  chief  secretary,  Mr.  Pearson,  falling  ill,  Raffles  took 
his  place,  and  his  abihty  became  more  and  more  marked, 
and  when  the  former  had  to  proceed  to  Europe,  Raffles 
received  a  seat  in  the  Council. 

In  the  year  1806  Dr.  Ley  den  visited  Penang  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health  and  resided  with  Raffles  for  some 
months.  Dr.  Leyden  was  delighted  with  the  industry  and 
evident  talent  of  his  host,  and  when  he  returned  to  Bengal 
they  continued  to  correspond. 

Raffles  gave  to  his  letters  the  style  of  essays,  and  the 
amiable  doctor  took  every  opportunity  of  bringing  them  and 
their  author  to  the  notice  of  his  patron,  the  Earl  of  Minto, 
at  that  time  Governor-General  of  India.  After  reading  the 
paper  on  the  Malay  race^  his  lordship  told  Dr.  Leyden  to 
inform  Raffles  that  he  was  much  pleased,  and  begged  that 
any  further  information  relating  to  the  Eastern  settlements 
might  be  forwarded  direct  to  himself. 

In  1808  Raffles  completely  broke  down  from  overwork ; 
he  being  never  very  robust,  the  fatigue,  responsibility,  and 
worry  attaching  to  the  office  of  secretary  in  the  organisation 
of  a  new  Government,  and  in  a  climate  which  had  already 
proved  fatal  to  many,  was  too  much  for  him.  His  seniors, 
always  solicitous  for  his  health  and  welfare,  suggested  a  long 
voyage,  but  Raffles  would  not  hear  of  it,  and  his  only  desire 
was  quickly  to  recover  in  order  to  do  his  duties  ;  he,  how- 
ever, proceeded  to  Malacca  for  a  change  of  air. 

It  was  here  he  had  the  opportunity  of  mixing  with  an 
Oriental  population,  people  from  all  parts  of  Asia,  Java, 
Amboyna,  Celebes,  Borneo,  New  Guinea,  China,  and  Bengal. 
With  them  he  enjoyed  conversing,   and  gaining  all  the 

1  See  Lady  Raffles'  "Life,  etc.,"  p.  15. 
J. — VOL.   I.  U 


290  JAVA 

information  they  could  impart  to  him  about  the  surrounding 
countries. 

Whilst  he  was  away  at  Malacca  the  Governor  wrote  to 
him  as  follows  : — 

"  My  dear  Sir, — A  thousand  thanks  for  your  kind  letters,  which 
I  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  from  you.  .  .  . 

It  is  distressing  to  me,  my  dear  Sir,  to  be  under  the  necessity 
of  stating  in  this  pointed  manner  the  unavoidable  exigence  of 
the  case,  but  such  is  the  case,  that  we  cannot  make  up  any 
despatches  for  the  Court  (in  London)  without  your  assistance. 
This  is  truly  hard  on  you,  under  your  present  delicate  state  of 
health,  but  I  trust  you  will  believe  that  nothing  else  would  induce 
me  to  press  so  hard  on  you  at  this  time.  .  .  . 

"  To  Mr.  Raffles." 

Within  a  few  years  after  his  arrival  KafEes  had  made  a 
name  for  himself  in  the  East  Indies  as  second  to  none  in  his 
knowledge  of  all  the  surrounding  islands  and  their  in- 
habitants, and  his  name  was  repeatedly  brought  before  the 
Viceroy  of  India,  who  placed  himself  in  private  corre- 
spondence with  him,  and  when  the  Moluccas  were  seized  by 
the  EngHsh  in  1810  wished  to  send  him  there  to  govern, 
such  a  high  opinion  had  he  of  his  talents.  Penang,  however, 
still  had  need  of  his  services,  and  it  was  clear  that  he  was 
merely  being  kept  by  the  Government  for  still  greater 
things. 

When  Napoleon  was  carrying  out  at  this  period  his  great 
schemes  for  conquering  the  world,  the  annexation  of  Holland 
to  France  placed  all  the  valuable  and  extensive  possessions 
of  the  Dutch  at  his  mercy.  The  Enghsh,  however,  not 
desirous  of  seeing  the  French  nation  become  as  powerful  in 
the  East  as  it  already  was  in  the  West,  immediately  decided 
upon  the  occupation  of  the  French  islands  of  Mauritius  and 
Bourbon.  It  now  became  known  that  General  Daendels 
was  on  his  way  out  to  make  Java  the  base  of  operations  for 
obtaining  the  French  political  ascendency  by  the  occupation 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.   RAFFLES  291 

and  annexation  of  British  India.  His  opportunity  had  been 
given  to  Raffles  when  he  began  his  direct  correspondence 
with  Lord  Minto,  and  he  was  prepared  to  improve  it. 
Towards  the  end  of  1810  he  proceeded  to  Calcutta,  where  he 
was  received  with  great  kindness,  and  on  his  return  was 
appointed  to  be  Governor-General's  Agent  for  the  Eastern 
Seas,  and  directed  to  reside  at  Malacca.  The  Indian 
authorities  were  now  occupied  in  the  attempt  to  drive  the 
French  out  of  these  seas,  their  privateers  having  done  so 
much  damage  to  English  shipping  that  no  exertions  were 
spared  to  deprive  them  of  any  place  for  refitting  their  ships. 
The  Dutch  had  been  forced  into  a  European  war,  and  their 
colonies  were  in  consequence  liable  to  capture.  Raffles  now 
furnished  the  Court  of  Directors  with  the  fullest  information 
respecting  the  East  generally,  and  more  particularly  Java, 
against  which  place  Lord  Minto  decided,  after  a  study  of 
Raffles'  very  full  information,  to  send  a  force. 

After  all  the  preliminary  arrangements  had  been  made 
and  Raffles  had  got  into  communication  with  all  the  chiefs 
in  the  Archipelago,  the  expedition  left  India  in  1811,  with 
Lord  Minto  in  command.  The  rendezvous  was  Malacca, 
where  his  lordship  arrived  on  the  9th  May,  having  previously 
landed  at  Penang  on  the  18th  April.  Every  possible 
information  had  been  provided  beforehand  by  Raffles  for 
the  purposes  of  the  expedition,  even  to  the  deciding  on  the 
best  route  for  the  ships  to  sail  from  Malacca  to  Batavia. 

Lord  Minto  was  astounded  at  Raffles'  forethought  and 
intelligence,  for  the  latter  had  made  use  of  every  one  who 
could  give  the  slightest  piece  of  information  regarding  Java, 
which  the  Dutch  had  for  centuries  been  jealously  guarding, 
that  other  nations  should  never  learn  its  real  value.  Captain 
Burn,  an  Englishman  trading  at  Pontianak,  Robert  Scott, ^ 
who  had  a  private  dwelling-house  at  Penang,  called  "  Kelso  " 
(which    Lord    Minto    visited),   Captain   John    Greig,    and 

'  See  Robert  Scott,  merchant,  in  the  material  to  be  published  later. 

u  2 


292  JAVA 

Mr.  Stewart  were  all  requisitioned  in  turn  by  Raffles  and 

closely  interrogated  by  him,  being  given  lists  of  questions  to 

which  to  furnish  replies. 

The  route  marked  out  by  Raffles  Lord  Minto  decided, 

against  the  advice  of  all  the  naval  officers,  to  adopt,  and 

the  fleet  proceeded  by  the  direct  way  instead  of  by  that 

way  hitherto  used  along  the  coast  of  Borneo. 

The  fleet  was  in  one  long  line  of  ninety  sail,  with  H.M.S. 

Modeste,  on  board  of  which  were  Lord  Minto  and  Raffles, 

closing  up  the  rear. 
What  Raffles'  feelings  must  have  been  when  standing 

beside  Lord  Minto  as  the  ships  one  by  one  dropped  anchor 

in  the  Bay  of  Chillinching  on  the  30th  July,  without  a 

single  mishap,  may  be  better  imagined  than  described. 
No  doubt  he  felt  that  at  last  his  great  and  well-formed 

ideas  for  the  aggrandisement  of  his  nation  in  the  East  were 

about  to  be  realised. 

The  troops  disembarked  on  the  4th  August  in  splendid 
order,  and  after  a  brilliant  feat  of  arms  captured  Batavia, 
Governor-General  Janssens  capitulating  the  island  on  the 
18th  September,  1811. 

Raffles  was  appointed  to  be  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Java 
and  its  dependencies,  not  only  as  a  mark  of  his  peculiar 
fitness  for  this  office  but  as  a  special  acknowledgment  of  the 
valuable  services  he  had  rendered  ;  and  thus  six  years  after 
his  arrival  in  India,  without  interest  or  friends,  and  solely 
dependent  on  his  own  exertions,  he  was  elevated  to  one  of 
the  highest  offices  in  the  Empire. 

It  is  not  necessary  here  to  enter  into  an  extended  exami- 
nation of  Raffles'  policy  in  Java,  but,  as  it  turned  out,  all 
Englishmen  and  well-read  Dutchmen  will  agree  that  no 
better  choice  could  have  been  made,  and  the  vigorous  energy 
he  displayed  during  the  five  years  the  English  ruled  Java 
is  a  marvel  to  all  those  who  have  had  the  advantage  of 
closely  studying  his  administration. 


FOKT    TAGGAL    (tEGAl),    1811.       (BRITISH    FLAG    IS    FLYING 


FORT    CHKRIBON,    IHll. 


LIFE    OF   SIR   T.    S.    RAFFLES  293 

He  was  everywhere  and  did  everything,  travelHng,  when 
time  permitted,  from  one  end  of  the  island  to  the  other  to 
inquire  personally  whether  his  orders  were  being  carried 
out  in  the  spirit  he  desired,  in  one  tireless  effort  conscien- 
tiously to  do  his  duty  to  God  and  man.  The  Dutch  before 
the  arrival  of  the  English  had  possession  only  of  Sunda  and 
the  western  part  of  the  island,  but  under  Raffles'  govern- 
ment Soerakarta  and  Djockjockarta  were  reduced,  and,  as 
Raffles  in  one  of  his  famous  despatches  stated,  "  the  Euro- 
pean power  is  for  the  first  time  paramomit  in  Java." 
Except  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Batavia,  the  native  regents 
had  been  permitted  to  govern  the  country  as  they  pleased, 
provided  they  were  civil  to  the  European  officials  and 
supplied  their  proper  share  of  grain  and  labour  when  called 
on.  The  revenues  had  been  derived  from  a  monopoly  of 
the  retail  sale  of  opium,  spirits,  toddy,  etc.,  from  gambling 
and  cock-fighting  farms,  from  transit  and  customs  duties, 
and  from  the  forced  dehvery  of  produce  at  prices  below  the 
market  value. 

Raffles  introduced  a  new  system.  Availing  himself  of 
the  acknowledged  Asiatic  right  of  sovereignty  over  the  soil, 
he  fixed  on  an  equable  and  moderate  land  rent,  and  abolished 
the  forced  deliveries  of  produce,  the  right  to  exact  labour, 
and  all  tolls  and  imposts,  which  had  hitherto  been  a  bar  to 
improvement  and  had  impoverished  the  island,  neither  the 
Dutch  nor  the  Javans  reaping  much  benefit  therefrom,  the 
only  people  winning  any  advantage  from  these  ancient  and 
out-of-date  methods  being  the  Chinese,  who  had  already 
grown  inordinately  rich  all  over  the  island. 

Raffles  was  also  very  fond  of  conomittees,  establishing  a 
*'  Revenue  Committee,"^  a  "  Commercial  Committee,"^  a 
*'  Committee  for  the  Improvement  of  the  Town  Suburbs," 

>  The  Revenue  Committee  was  established  on  the  13th  August,  1813. 
^  The  Commercial  Committee  was  established  between  the  9th  and  17th 
June,  1813  (see  "  Engelschen  op  Java,"  door  J.  Hageman). 


294  JAVA 

a  chief  paymaster  with  a  committee/  and  so  forth.  All 
these  bodies  had  definite  duties  to  perform,  and  were  ex- 
pected to  furnish  full  particulars  on  certain  prescribed 
subjects  when  called  upon  by  the  central  Government. 
Before,  however,  sufficient  time  had  been  allowed  to  test 
the  value  of  the  new  system,  which  was  obviously  a  great 
improvement  on  the  earlier  one,  Java  was  restored  to  the 
Dutch.  No  question  in  connection  with  Eastern  Asia  has 
ever  been  canvassed  more  than  the  restoration  of  this  island 
to  its  former  masters,  and  EafHes  at  the  time,  in  a  bitter 
letter  of  reproach  to  a  friend,  says  "  the  island  has  been 
transferred  by  the  English  Government  in  total  ignorance 
of  its  value  to  the  Dutch." 

It  has  also  been  asserted  that  the  national  interests  were 
unjustifiably  sacrificed  ;  that  the  real  value  of  the  island 
was  unknown  ;  that  the  Lord  Castlereagh  was  imposed 
upon  by  the  flattering  attention  of  the  allied  sovereigns, 
who  were  loud  in  their  praise  ot  the  generous  magnanimity 
of  the  great  Enghsh  nation  which  had  fought  the  battle  of 
Europe  on  the  most  disinterested  principles  ;  and  that  he 
consented  to  the  restoration  without  having  sufficiently 
considered  the  matter.  It  must,  however,  be  recollected 
that  in  consequence  of  the  large  military  force  necessary  to 
maintain  possession  the  expenses  far  exceeded  the  revenue. 
The  arrangements  of  Raffles  not  having  had  time  to  produce 
the  expected  results  in  improving  the  financial  condition  of 
the  settlement,  he  was  obhged  to  draw  on  Bengal  at  a  time 
when  the  treasury  in  that  residency  was  exhausted  by  the 
Pindarrie  and  Ghoorka  wars.  It  was  argued,  in  ignorance 
of  the  new  financial  arrangements  and  the  prosperity 
expected  therefrom,  that  the  island  was  not  worth  keeping, 
and  therefore  neither  the  Crown  nor  the  Company  exerted 
themselves  to  retain  it.  In  the  general  political  view  it 
must  also  be  recollected  that  it  was  the  object  of  the  Treaty 

'  Called  "  Account  General  Office." 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.   S.   RAFFLES  295 

of  Vienna  to  re-establish  the  balance  of  power,  and  however 
much  the  Enghsh  Minister  was  ignorant  of  the  great  value 
of  Java,  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  Dutch  neglected 
any  means  to  obtain  restitution  of  what  was  their  most 
valuable  possession.  The  nations  of  Europe  have  always 
been  jealous  of  the  extraordinary  power  of  the  English  in 
India,  and  the  opportunity  was  not  lost  for  depriving  them 
of  the  preponderance  which  the  possession  of  eJava  would 
have  given  them  in  the  East,  to  the  exclusion  of  another 
weaker,  and,  therefore,  in  the  event  of  future  differences, 
more  easily  influenced  nation. 

This  decision  was  also  doubtless  not  uninfluenced  by  the 
fact  that  the  English  had  already  deprived  the  Dutch  of 
all  their  other  valuable  colonial  possessions — Ceylon,  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  etc. 

The  Court  of  Directors  disapproved  of  Baffles'  arrange- 
ments in  Java,  and  took  the  opportunity  to  supersede  him 
when  charges  of  maladministration  were  made  by  General 
Gillespie,  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  troops.  It  is 
scarcely  necessary  to  allude  to  these  charges  further  than 
to  state  that  Raffles  found  no  difficulty  in  answering  them, 
and  that  they  were  most  probably  brought  forward  through 
misunderstandings  as  to  the  relations  between  the  Crown's 
and  the  Company's  officers  at  a  time  when  it  was  still 
expected  the  island  would  be  retained  by  the  Crown.  The 
Crown  officers  were  accustomed  to  see  in  the  Indian  civihan 
the  clerk  rather  than  the  administrator  of  empires.  One  of 
the  charges,  that  arising  out  of  the  question  of  "  the  sale  of 
lands  in  perpetuity,"  which  has  ever  since  caused  trouble 
to  the  Dutch  Government,  was  the  main  ground  for  attack- 
ing Raffles,  and  out  of  which  his  enemies — and  he  had,  like 
all  great  men,  many  of  them — made  the  most.  That 
Raffles  himself  decided  upon  the  sale  of  these  lands  there 
can  be  no  doubt  of,  but  there  was  no  fault  to  be  found  in 
this  ;  there  were  precedents,  Marshall  Daendels  having  also 


296  JAVA 

sold  large  tracts  of  country.     During  his  tenure  of  office,  for 
instance,   the  whole  of  the  residencies  of   Bezoekie  and 
Panaroekan  had  been  sold  on  the  30th  June,  1810,  to  the 
Captain  Chinaman  of  Sourabaya,  Han  Tjan  Pit,  for  400,000 
Spanish  matten  ;    and  the  residency  of  Probolingo  on  the 
3rd  December,  1810,  to  the  Captain  Chinaman  of  Pasoeroean, 
Han  Tik  Ho,  for  1,000,000  ryks  dollars  ;    as  also  later  on 
lands  in  Oedjoeng,  Krawang,  Tjikarang  Tjawang  Boengien, 
Tjibarassa,  Sumadangan,  and  Tegal  Waroe.    Where,  how- 
ever, the  mistake  lay  was  in  the  methods  employed  by 
Baffles'  lieutenants,  Thomas  Macquoid  and  Nicolaas  Engel- 
hard, in  carrying  out  the  sales,  which  resulted,  after  several 
postponements,  in  large  slices  of  territory  being  sold  for 
nominal  prices.     Even  this,  however,  might  have  survived 
criticism  had  Baffles  not  unfortunately  been  a  member  of  a 
syndicate  (consisting  of  Macquoid,  Engelhard,  and  A.  de 
Wilde)  which  bought  the  estate  of  Soekaboemi,  reaching 
from  Bandoeng  to  nearly  Buitenzorg,  for  a  ridiculous  trifle. 
It  must,  however,  be  taken  into  account  that  in  those  days 
it  was  quite  a  common  thing  for  the  Company's  servants  to 
buy  land  as  a  speculation,  so  that  it  was  merely  a  question 
of  the  methods  employed  for  securing  the  estates  for  privi- 
leged persons  which  raised  the  storm  of  indignation  among 
the  army  officers,  who  viewed  the  affair  with  sanctimonious 
horror  and  disgust ;   and  the  Com't  of  Directors  when  they 
heard  of  it  gave  it  as  their  candid  opinion  that  it  was  a 
'*  questionable  proceeding."     The  broad-minded  Governor- 
General  of  India,  Lord  Minto,  registered,  however,  as  his 
opinion  that  the  sale  of  lands  was  a  "  wise  proceeding  during 
a  period  of  great  necessity."     Be  this  as  it  may,  there  can 
be  no   doubt   that   Baffles    never    wholly    disproved    the 
charge  which  lay  on  his  administration  that  he  had  been 
mixed  up,  directly  or  indirectly,  with  his  lieutenants  in 
a  questionable  transaction,  although  there  also  can  be  no 
doubt  that  he  was  in  no  way  implicated  in  these  "  doubt- 


laiTSCH    BESTUUR. 

iSu  -  j8iff. 


JAYAN    COINS    UNDKR    THK    KKITISH    OCCL-PATIOX    (1811-1816). 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.    RAFFLES  297 

ful  "  proceedings,  his  own  share  in  them  being  open  and 
honourable. 

Mr.  Fendall,  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Council,  was  ordered 
to  relieve  Eaffles,  and  took  over  the  administration  from 
him  on  the  12th  March,  1816  ;  but  shortly  after  this  the 
island  was  restored  to  the  Dutch.  The  Marquis  of  Hastings, 
who  succeeded  Lord  Minto  as  Governor-General,  was  one  of 
those  who  reported  unfavourably  on  the  acquisition,  and 
the  constant  requisitions  on  the  Bengal  treasury  did  not 
leave  room  for  any  hesitation  on  the  Company's  part  in  the 
desire  to  be  reheved  from  a  useless  acquisition.  Lord 
Minto's  early  death  after  his  return  from  India  precluded 
Raffles  from  having  the  advantage  of  his  support  in  laying 
before  Parliament  and  the  country  the  great  advantage, 
from  a  political  point  of  view,  of  the  possession  of  Java,  and 
at  the  same  time  in  explaining  the  vast  agricultural  and 
trading  resources  of  the  island,  which  would  soon  have  had  a 
large  surplus  revenue  and  have  afforded  an  extensive  market 
for  British  manufactures. 

It  appeared  doubtful  after  the  capture  of  Java  whether 
it  would  be  held  by  the  Royal  Government  or  be  made  over 
to  the  Company,  and  Lord  Minto's  thoughtful  consideration 
had  secured  a  retreat  for  Raffles  in  the  residency  of  Ben- 
coolen,  in  Sumatra,  in  case  his  services  should  no  longer  be 
required  in  Java.  On  his  supersession,  however.  Raffles 
proceeded  home  in  the  ship  Ganges,  broken  in  health  from 
overwork  and  worry,  broken  in  spirits,  and  a  disappointed 
man.^  His  object  was  to  recruit  his  health  and  at  the  same 
time  to  set  himself  right  with  the  Court  of  Directors  and  the 
public,  for  his  public  and  his  private  character  had  been 
violently  and  wantonly  attacked. 

The  charges  were  easily  disposed  of,  and  his  services  in 
Java  were  acknowledged  by  the  Prince  Regent,  who  con- 

1  On  the  way  home  the  Ganges  called  at  St.  Helena,  and  Kafiies  had  a 
long  interview  with  Napoleon. 


298  JAVA 

f erred  on  him  the  honour  of  knighthood,  while  the  Court  of 
Directors,  on  Raffles  addressing  them  and  stating  that  for 
ten  years  he  had  laboured  with  unwearied  zeal  to  promote 
their  best  interests  and  so  claimed  a  consideration  of  his 
services,  was  reluctantly  forced  to  notify  him  in  October, 
1817,  of  their  appreciation  of  his  services  and  of  their  having 
appointed  him  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bencoolen,  with 
greater  powers  than  had  been  held  before  by  the  chief  of 
that  factory.  Their  dispatch  contained  the  following 
words  : — 

"  The  Court  of  Directors,  in  consideration  of  the  zeal  and 
talents  displayed  during  the  period  he  filled  the  office  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor of  Java,  confer  upon  him  the  title  of  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Bencoolen  as  a  peculiar  mark  of  the  favourable 
sentiments  which  the  Court  entertain  of  his  merits  and  service." 

He  was  also  empowered  to  attend  to  the  general  interests  of 
the  English  in  the  archipelago,  more  particularly  in  relation 
to  the  Dutch. 

This  is  the  beginning  of  the  second  portion  of  Sir  Stamford 
Raffles'  career  in  these  seas.  At  an  early  period  of  his 
service  at  Penang  he  had  made  himself  acquainted  with  the 
conditions  and  with  the  earher  history  and  commercial 
relations  of  nearly  every  native  State  in  the  archipelago  ; 
he  had  traced  the  connection  of  the  several  foreign  nations 
with  each  State,  and  had  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  it 
was  necessary  for  the  welfare  of  the  native  population  that 
the  Enghsh  should  be  the  paramount  power  in  the  Malay 
countries,  and  that  the  Dutch  influence  should  be  weakened. 

With  Java  the  Dutch  had  lost  their  last  hold  on  the  archi- 
pelago, their  other  positions  having  been  previously  captured, 
and  Sir  Stamford,  for  the  time,  saw  his  fondest  hopes 
reahsed  ;  his  disappointment  on  the  restoration  of  these 
possessions  at  the  peace  of  1815  was  consequently  very 
great,  and  he  now  set  himself  to  work  to  counteract  the 
Dutch  influence  in  every  possible  way.     This  became  the 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.   RAFFLES  299 

master  passion  of  his  life,  and  is  the  key  to  all  his  after 
proceedings.  He  had  succeeded  in  instilling  some  of  his 
pohcy  into  the  minds  of  the  Eoyal  and  of  the  Company's 
Government  at  home,  and  he  was  now  entrusted  with 
extensive  powers  to  watch  over  British  interests  in  the 
archipelago  under  the  name  of  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
Bencoolen,  an  office  in  itself  without  these  extra  powers. 

On  arriving  at  Bencoolen  on  the  22nd  March,  1818,  Sir 
Stamford  found  everything  in  a  state  of  the  most  extreme 
disorder,  morally  and  physically.  The  roads  were  impass- 
able, the  highways  over-run  with  rank  grass,  and  Govern- 
ment House,  which  was  built  of  bamboos,  was  a  den  of 
ravenous  dogs  and  pole-cats.  It  was  the  most  wretched 
place  he  had  ever  beheld  ;  but  his  buoyant  spirits  did  not, 
however,  give  way,  and  he  prayed  and  hoped  God  would 
grant  him  health  to  carry  out  his  task.  The  day  before  his 
arrival  an  earthquake  had  destroyed  the  town  :  while  the 
state  of  morals  among  all  classes  was  described  as  disgraceful 
to  civihsation.  In  writing  to  Sir  E.  H.  Inglis  under  date 
12th  June,  1819,  he  says  : — 

"  The  state  of  society,  even  among  the  Europeans,  was  very 
bad  on  my  arrival.  I  trust  it  is  improving  :  an  instance  has  just 
occurred  which  will,  I  hope,  impress  on  the  higher  authorities 
the  necessity  of  attending  more  closely  to  the  religious  and  moral 
character  of  their  establishment." 

Bencoolen,  although  it  had  been  seized  by  the  English  as 
early  as  1682  and  a  factory  was  erected  a  few  years  later, 
had  never  prospered.  For  some  unaccountable  reason  it 
did  not  in  these  days  attract  the  Malays,  who  called  it  tanah 
mate,  or  "  the  dead  land  of  their  ancestors,"  and  the  Chinese, 
although  offered  all  sorts  of  alluring  prospects  and  induce- 
ments, steadfastly  refused  to  go  there.  The  reason  the 
Enghsh  had  made  an  estabhshment  here  was  that  there 
were  pepper  gardens  in  the  neighbourhood,  but  the  expenses 


300  JAVA 

of  the  Government  being  about  £100,000  per  annum,  no 
profitable  return  could  be  expected  from  the  few  tons  of 
pepper  exported. 

Li  1801  the  Court  of  Directors  sent  orders  to  reduce  the 
estabhshment  to  a  resident,  four  assistants,  and  four  writers, 
and  to  withdraw  the  sub-residencies,  which  extended  from 
Padany  to  the  south  of  the  island. 

Sir  Stamford  Eaffles  set  himself  vigorously  to  work  to 
improve  the  place.  He  found  a  number  of  young  men  in 
the  establishment  who  had  no  adequate  duties  to  occupy 
their  attention  :  these  he  formed  into  committees,  presided 
over  by  members  of  his  own  staff,  who  had  accompanied 
him  from  Java  ;  and  the  promotion  of  agriculture,  educa- 
tion, religion,  and  general  amelioration  formed  subjects  of 
occupation  and  amusement  where  hitherto  dissipation  had 
been  the  only  relief  from  a  dull  and  monotonous  existence. 
The  revenues  of  Bencoolen  had  been  derived  from  gambling, 
opium,  cock-fighting  farms,  the  almost  forced  delivery  of 
produce  at  rates  below  its  marketable  value,  and  from  the 
labour  of  the  Company's  African  slaves,  of  whom  there  were 
two  hundred,  all  born  in  the  settlement,  the  children  of 
slaves  purchased  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  English  East 
India  Company.  They  loaded  and  unloaded  the  Company's 
ships,  and  a  more  depraved,  dissolute  lot  it  would  not  be 
possible  to  imagine,^  given  over  as  they  were  to  profligacy 
and  vices  of  the  worst  description. 

Sir  Stamford  abolished  the  gambling  and  cock-fighting 
farms  and  emancipated  the  slaves.  These  acts  would 
require  no  explanation  or  apology  in  the  present  day,  but 
in  the  year  1819  the  policy  was  too  far  in  advance,  and,  as 
no  adequate  provision  was  made  to  supply  the  deficiency  of 
revenue,  the  moral  considerations  were  not  allowed  to  weigh 
against  the  pecuniary  loss.     The  result  of  these  and  other 

^  There  were  also  a  few  Bengaleae  slaves  sent  to  Bencoolen  in  1797  for 
life  as  a  punishment  for  crimes  they  had  committed. 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.   RAFFLES  301 

operations  about  this  period  was  very  nearly  fatal  to  their 
projector's  prospects  and  position  in  the  Indian  service. 

On  the  19th  May,  1818,  Raffles  made  one  of  his  celebrated 
trips  to  the  interior  of  Sumatra  ;  he  was  accompanied  by 
Lady  Raffles,  Dr.  Arnold,  and  Mr.  Presgrave,  the  British 
Resident  of  Manna  (a  station  near  Bencoolen),  six  native 
chiefs,  and  fifty  coolies,  carrying  the  baggage  and  food.  It 
was  on  this  journey  that  the  gigantic  flower  now  called 
**  Rafflesia  Arnoldi  "  was  discovered.  Raffles  writes  of  his 
journey  : — 

"  There  is  nothing  more  striking  in  the  Malayan  forests  than 
the  grandeur  of  the  vegetation,  and  the  magnitude  of  the  flowers, 
creepers,  and  trees,  contrasts  strikingly  with  the  stunted,  pigmy 
vegetation  of  England.  Here  we  have  creepers  and  vines 
entwining  larger  trees,  and  hanging  suspended  for  more  than 
one  hundred  feet,  in  girth  not  less  than  a  man's  body,  and  many 
much  thicker,  the  trees  seldom  under  one  hundred  feet,  and 
generally  approaching  one  hundred  and  sixty  to  two  hundred 
feet  in  height." 

One  tree  which  Raffles  measured  was  nine  yards  in 
circumference. 

The  account  of  the  journey  is  most  interesting,  but  too 
long  to  relate  here.  Everywhere  Raffles  was  received  by 
the  villagers  with  acclamation ;  his  name,  which  was  now 
revered  in  the  archipelago,  had  preceded  him.  At  Tanjung 
Alem,  a  kampong  (small  village)  where  they  stopped  for  the 
night,  the  chiefs  insisted  on  making  a  treaty  by  which  they 
placed  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the  British 
Government.^ 

In  July  of  the  same  year  Raffles  proceeded  to  Padang, 
where  the  chiefs  were  under  some  consternation,  fearing 
that  he  was  coming  to  hand  the  settlement  over  to  the  Dutch. 
Twenty-five  years  had  elapsed  since  the  Dutch  left  the  place, 

*  This  journey  was  performed  for  a  second  time  later  by  Presgravo, 
Osborn,  Church,  and  CudUpp. 


302  JAVA 

so  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  natives  were  born  during 
the  period  of  the  EngUsh  occupation,  and  they  feared,  with 
an  unholy  terror,  that  if  the  Dutch  returned  they  would  be 
punished  and  degraded  for  their  fealty  towards  the  Enghsh — 
a  mistaken  idea,  of  course. 

The  chiefs  here  explained  to  RafEes  that  the  Dutch  had 
no  right  to  Padang,  and  that  any  treaties  that  they  had 
made  were  purely  of  a  commercial  nature. 

Raffles  now  began  making  inquiries  about  Meiidngkabu 
(the  power  of  which  in  ancient  times  extended  over  the  whole 
of  Sumatra),  which  he  was  very  anxious  to  visit. 

Mendngkahu  was  famous  at  the  time  of  the  Egyptians,  and 
was  known  not  only  as  the  cradle  of  the  Malayan  race,  but 
as  a  place  abounding  in  gold  mines.  It  is  said  that  it  was 
from  Mendngkahu,  and  chiefly  down  the  Siak,  Sudragiri, 
and  Sunda  rivers,  that  the  gold  which  the  traders  of  Solomon 
loaded  at  Malacca  was  carried.  It  was  to  the  gold  of 
Mendng/cafew  that  Malacca  probably  owed  in  part  its  designa- 
tion as  the  "  Golden  Chersonesus,"  and  navigators,  only  a 
century  ago,  distinguished  in  their  charts  two  mountains  in 
its  neighbourhood,  each  called  Mount  Ophir,  one  on  the 
peninsula  of  Malacca  and  one  in  West  Sumatra.  Having 
secured  all  the  information  he  could.  Raffles  left  on  the 
14th  July  for  Mendngkahu,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
Dr.  Horsfield,  the  great  botanist,  who  presented  to  the 
scientific  institutions  of  the  world  such  a  vast  collection  of 
information  regarding  Java. 

When  Raffles  arrived  on  the  borders  of  the  Tigablas 
country  the  chiefs  were  so  delighted  to  see  him  that  they 
desired  him  to  remain  with  them  for  three  days,  a  request 
he  was  unable  to  comply  with.  The  country  here  was 
highly  cultivated  ;  on  the  slopes  of  the  mountains  coffee, 
indigo,  maize,  oil-yielding  plants,  and  even  sugar-cane  were 
growing,  whilst  on  the  plains  there  were  "  sawahsj'  or  rice- 
fields,  cultivated  on  the  same  principle  as  in  Java. 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.   RAFFLES  303 

Eaffles  also  remarks  on  an  abundant  fine  breed  of  small 
cattle,  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  Mendngkabu  country 
preferred  to  the  water-buffalo  introduced  into  Java  from 
India^  at  a  later  period.  These  animals  stood  about  three 
feet  four  inches  high,  and  were  very  beautiful,  being  mostly 
of  a  light  fawn  colour,  with  black  eyes  and  lashes.  They 
were  sold  at  about  three  dollars  a  head. 

Baffles  says,  "  They  are  without  exception  the  most 
beautiful  little  animals  of  the  kind  I  ever  beheld." 

In  this  country  the  women  wore  their  hair  parted  over 
the  forehead  and  combed  smooth  down  the  sides,  and  the 
children  and  young  girls  were  frequently  seen  with  their 
hair  plaited  down  their  back.  The  women  had  the  lobe  of 
their  ears  distended  to  an  enormous  extent,  in  order  to 
receive  an  immense  ear-ring  about  two  inches  in  diameter 
made  of  wood,  silver,  or  copper.  The  people  of  Mendngkabu 
were  not  good  looking ;  whilst  in  manners  ruder  and  less 
cultivated  than  their  neighbours,  they  were  superior  in  the 
knowledge  of  agriculture,  and  generally  speaking  their 
economic  condition  was  better. 

Their  houses  were  large  and  well  built — in  length  about 
sixty  feet,  with  an  interior  hall  and  several  rooms.  In  front 
of  each  house  were  the  usual  two  lombongs  or  granaries,  on 
the  same  principle  as  in  Java,  but  much  longer.  The  wood- 
work in  the  houses  was  carved. 

When  Eaffles  arrived  at  last  at  Mendngkabu  he  found 
only  the  remains  of  ancient  grandeur  ;  everywhere  there 
was  the  wreck  of  a  once  large  and  populous  city,  waringin 
trees  in  hnes  marking  the  ways,  fruit  trees  showing  where 
the  orchards  had  been,  and  various  signs  showed  where  the 
boundaries  had  been  of  this  great  town.  The  halls  of  the 
palace  were  covered  with  grass.  This  was  a  large  planked 
house,  situated  in  a  beautiful  position  on  the  banks  of  the 
Golden   River,   but  fast  falling  into   decay.     In  its  day 

^  Some  think  China. 


304  JAVA 

Mendngkabu  was  the  centre  of  a  mighty  empire,  that  was 
three  times  sacked  by  the  Persians  and  Arabs.  Here  Eaffles 
to  his  dehght  found  a  stone  with  Kawi  (Sanscrit)  characters 
on  it,  which  proved  to  him  the  Hindu  origin  of  its  early 
inhabitants.  He  also  found  the  throne  of  stone,  where  the 
sultan  used  to  sit  in  state.  The  royal  and  ancient  burial 
ground  was  also  discovered  in  the  forest. 

While  engaged  in  matters  of  domestic  policy  Sir  Stamford 
did  not  forget  the  political  duties  attached  to  his  office. 
The  Dutch,  on  being  reinstated  in  Java,  had  again  taken 
over  the  dependencies  in  Sumatra,  among  others  the  State 
of  Palembang,  which,  previously  only  a  nominal  possession, 
had  been  reduced  to  complete  subjection  by  a  force  under 
General  Gillespie.  Their  policy  was  always  somewhat 
aggressive,  and  now,  having  the  State  of  Lampong  under 
their  government,  they  at  once  came  into  collision  with  the 
English  over  the  boundaries  of  that  State,  which  marched 
with  Bencoolen.  The  encroachments  of  the  Dutch  were 
embarrassing,  and  Sir  Stamford  conceived  the  idea  of 
forming  a  settlement  to  offer  a  check  to  their  further  advance. 
He  had  already  declared  Bencoolen  to  be  a  free  port,  but  its 
position  was  unfavourable  for  trade,  being  outside  the  great 
routes  through  the  Sunda  and  Malacca  Straits.  He  de- 
manded an  anchorage  at  Simangka  Bay,  in  the  Straits  of 
Sunda,  in  order,  as  he  stated  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Marsden, 
dated  the  7th  April,  1818,  "  to  be  able  to  set  up  our  shop 
next  door  to  the  Dutch."  The  settlement  was  a  failure, 
and  he  then  began  that  policy  by  which  his  name  and 
reputation  were  ultimately  established  in  the  Straits.  He 
had  already  in  prospect  the  idea  of  a  mercantile  competition 
with  the  Dutch,  as  the  following  passage  in  the  letter  above 
referred  to  will  show  :  "It  would  not,  I  think,  be  many 
years  before  my  station  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda  [Simangka 
Bay]  would  rival  Batavia  as  a  commercial  entrepot.''  His 
position  at  Bencoolen  gave  him  constant  opportunities  for 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.    RAFFLES  305 

experiencing  the  aggressive,  or  so-called  aggressive,  policy 
of  the  Dutch,  who  aimed,  and  naturally  so,  at  an  exclusive 
authority  in  the  Malay  countries.  In  order  to  oppose  this 
design  and  put  a  check  on  their  further  .progress  in  the 
Straits,  Sir  Stamford  proposed  the  formation  of  one  or  more 
trading  settlements,  which  by  the  more  liberal  policy  of  the 
English  would  become  "  depots  "  for  the  trade  of  the 
Archipelago. 

Penang  was  situated  too  far  to  the  north,  and  traders  on 
going  to  it  from  the  eastward  would  be  obliged  to  pass 
Malacca,  soon  to  be  restored  to  the  Dutch.  What  was 
Tv^anted  in  his  settlement  was  that  it  should  be  a  convenient 
place  for  the  Company's  ships  to  call  at  for  trade  or  refresh- 
ment, for  the  collection,  according  to  the  old-estabhshed 
course  of  trade,  of  the  produce  of  the  archipelago  and  the 
subsequent  distribution  of  English  goods  in  return,  and  for 
the  exercise  of  a  political  influence  over  the  Eastern  Seas. 
In  order  to  carry  out  this  policy  it  was  necessary  for  Sir 
Stamford  to  have  the  sanction  and  co-operation  of  the 
Supreme  Government,  and  he  deteiTnined  to  proceed  to 
Bengal,  for  the  purpose  of  urging  his  views  on  the  Governor- 
General.  The  Marquis  of  Hastings,  then  Governor-General, 
on  reUeving  Lord  Minto  had  taken  an  unfavourable  view  of 
affairs  to  the  eastward,  and  Sir  Stamford  had  many  mis- 
givings as  to  the  success  of  his  undertaking.  However,  after 
a  few  interviews,  he  succeeded  in  placing  himself  on  a 
friendly  footing,  and  laid  his  information  and  views  before 
Hastings  in  such  a  masterly  manner  that  all  objections  and 
difficulties  were  overruled.  He  returned  to  the  Straits 
invested,  for  the  second  time,  with  the  authority  of  Governor- 
General's  Agent  in  the  Eastern  Seas,  and  with  powers 
generally  to  oppose  the  Dutch  and,  if  possible,  to  form  an 
estabhshment  to  the  south  of  Malacca. 

Previous  to  the  capture  of  Malacca  by  the  English  in  1795 
the  trade  of  Penang  had  been  confined  to  the  northern 

J. — VOL.  I.  X 


306  JAVA 

portions  of  the  peninsula,  Sumatra,  and  the  continent  of 
India.  The  possession  of  Malacca,  on  the  highway  to  the 
entrance  to  the  archipelago,  enabled  the  Dutch  to  check  any 
attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Bugginese  and  other  Eastern 
traders  to  visit  Penang.  By  the  Treaty  of  Vienna  the 
settlement  of  Malacca  was  restored  to  the  Dutch,  and  it  was 
not  doubted  but  that  the  same  policy  which  had  marked 
their  previous  occupation  would  be  resumed,  and  that 
Penang,  which  by  this  time  had  acquired  a  very  considerable 
portion  of  Bugginese,  Chinese,  and  other  Eastern  trade, 
would  be  again  deprived  of  these  advantages.  Major 
Farquhar,  an  officer  of  the  Madras  Engineers,  who  had  been 
a  long  time  at  Malacca  in  a  semi-civil  capacity,  had,  after 
it  became  known  that  he  was  to  restore  Malacca,  in  the 
year  1816  brought  this  subject  to  the  notice  of  the  Penang 
Government,  and  pointed  out  the  Carimon  Islands  as  a  fit 
place  for  an  English  settlement. 

In  the  year  1818  he  was  authorised  by  the  Penang 
Government  to  visit  the  prince  of  those  islands,  and  he  in 
consequence  proceeded  to  Ehio,  then  in  the  hands  of  the 
Malays.' 

Major  Farquhar  found  the  Rajah  Mudah  Jaffir  to  be  the 
only  person  with  whom  his  negotiations  could  proceed,  and 
■svith  that  prince  he  concluded  a  treaty,  dated  the  19th 
August,  1818,  in  the  name  of  Sultan  Abdulrahman  of  Johore. 

The  Penang  Government  attempted  to  form  an  establish- 
ment on  the  island  of  Bentan ;  but  before  their  measures 
were  taken  the  Dutch  had  forestalled  them  at  Rhio,  and  they 
retired  as  usual  from  any  future  attempt,  in  the  conviction 
that  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  effect  their  object  in  these 
Malay  countries. 

It  was  under  these  circumstances  that  Sir  Stamford  came 

*  When  Malacca  was  taken  in  1795  the  smaU  station  or  dependency  of 
Rhio  followed,  but  after  a  short  time  the  EngUsh  abandoned  the  place, 
which  in  consequence  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Malays. 


THE    CANTONMENTS,    TANCiSI. 


PLASSEN    PASSAR,    OK    MARKET,    AT    TJILATJAP. 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.   RAFFLES  307 

down  to  the  Straits,  with,  as  before  stated,  the  rank  of 
Governor-General's  Agent  in  the  Eastern  Seas  ;  he  was 
bound  for  Acheen,  where,  in  conjunction  with  Major  Coombs, 
agent  of  the  Penang  Government,  he  was  appointed  to 
mediate  concerning  a  disputed  succession  to  that  throne. 

Colonel  Farquhar,  on  the  cession  of  Malacca,  was  proceed- 
ing to  England  when  it  occurred  to  the  supreme  Government 
that  his  local  knowledge,  the  result  of  fifteen  years'  duty  at 
Malacca  as  Kesident  and  Commandant,  might  prove  useful 
in  the  formation  of  the  new  settlement  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  his  former  residency.  Sir  Stamford  was 
furnished  with  a  letter  to  him,  dated  the  28th  November, 
1818,  in  which  the  thanks  of  the  Government  were  conveyed 
for  his  able  report  of  his  negotiations  under  the  direction  of 
the  Penang  Government,  and  a  desire  was  expressed  on  the 
part  of  the  Governor-General  that  the  benefit  of  his  further 
services  might  be  secured  to  improve  the  relations  already 
estabhshed  with  the  native  chiefs.  His  lordship  now  re- 
quested him  to  accompany  Sir  Stamford  RafEes  in  his 
expedition,  and  to  take  charge  of  the  infant  settlement  under 
the  directions  of  Sir  Stamford,  who  would  be  obliged  soon  to 
return  to  his  own  Government  at  Bencoolen. 

The  time  had  now  arrived  for  the  crowning  act  of  Sir 
Stamford's  career,  the  act  that  was  to  make  his  name 
famous  for  ever. 

At  this  moment  every  man's  hand  was  against  him — his 
success  had  been  too  great,  and  he  was  surrounded  by 
jealous  enemies.  The  ears  of  the  Court  of  Directors  were 
filled  with  the  grossest  and  basest  calumnies,  and  when  they 
found  they  could  not  attack  him  officially  they  descended 
to  the  lowest  depths  of  infamy  by  doing  so  personally.  The 
great  man  bore  up  well,  however,  and  laid  his  plans  in 
secret.  Every  place  in  the  archipelago  had  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  English,  in  nearly  all  cases  by  direct  treaty 
with  the  rajahs,  but  the  Dutch,  with  persistent  energy,  had 

X  2 


308  JAVA 

induced  the  Court  of  Directors  to  give  them  all  up.  Banca 
and  BilHton  had  been  quixotically  returned,  Padang  and 
Palembang  likewise  ;  Acheen  was  point-blank  refused,  and 
Ehio  had  slipped  through  their  fingers.  On  Sir  Stamford's 
arrival  at  Penang  his  mind  was  not  yet  made  up  as  to  where 
he  should  plant  the  British  flag,  and  even  on  leaving  this 
place  he  was  apparently  still  cogitating.  Sir  Stamford  was 
seen  during  this  time  in  Penang  in  deep  thought  on  the  sea- 
shore, looking  southwards.  The  Viceroy  of  India's  last 
words,  "  Sir  Stamford,  you  may  depend  on  me,"  were 
apparently  uppermost  in  his  mind,  for  he  was  continually 
heard  muttering,  "  I  think  I  can  rely  on  the  marquis."  He 
found  later  on,  when  discussions  arose  regarding  the  advisa- 
bility of  giving  in  to  the  Dutch  and  letting  them  have  the 
new  settlement,  that  Hastings  was  a  man  of  his  word. 

Sir  Stamford  left  Penang  and  sailed  down  the  Straits  with 
a  small  handful  of  troops  under  Colonel  Farquhar,  which 
had  been  reluctantly  lent  by  the  Governor.  Sir  Stamford 
gave  instructions  to  the  captain  of  the  ship  to  sail  on  past 
Malacca,  as  it  was  to  the  south  of  this  place  that  the  station 
was  to  be  fixed.  He  was  himself  on  dock  the  whole  time 
scanning  the  horizon.  Siak  was  quickly  given  up,  where- 
upon they  proceeded  to  the  Carimons,  which  place  had 
been  pointed  out  by  the  colonel  as  a  likely  site  ;  but  on 
examination  it  proved  to  be  inconvenient  in  its  capacity  as 
a  harbour,  and  they  went  on  towards  Johore,  to  which 
locality  Sir  Stamford's  views  were  then  directed.  On 
passing  through  the  Straits  of  Singapore  Colonel  Farquhar 
suggested  that  they  should  land  to  visit  the  Tumonggong 
of  Johore,  who  had  lately  settled  himself  on  that  island, 
and  who  was  known  to  the  colonel. 

On  arriving  in  the  harbour  the  evident  advantages  of  the 
place  struck  them  both.  "  This,"  said  Sir  Stamford,  "  is 
where  we  shall  form  a  settlement,"  and  the  British  flag  was 
unfurled. 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.   S.   RAFFLES  309 

The  date  was  the  29th  January,  1819.  Sir  Stamford 
Raffles  sent  Colonel  Farquhar  on  at  once  to  Rhio  to  request 
that  the  permission  which  had  formerly  been  given  to  him 
by  the  Rajah  Mudah  to  form  a  settlement  on  the  Carimons 
might  now  be  extended  to  the  site  of  the  ancient  city  of 
Singapura. 

The  Dutch,  however,  ere  this  had  resumed  their  former 
position  of  lords  paramount  in  the  Johore  archipelago,  and 
had  already  extracted  a  treaty  from  the  Rajah  Mudah  and 
his  creature.  Sultan  Abdulrahman,  restraining  these  rulers 
from  granting  a  footing  to  any  European  Power  in  Johore. 
After  some  management,  however.  Colonel  Farquhar  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  an  implied  permission,  with  which  he 
returned  to  Singapore,  where  Sir  Stamford  concluded  a 
treaty  with  the  Tumonggong,  dated  February,  1819. 

This  treaty  was  to  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  Sultan 
Houssain  of  Johore.  The  following  day  Sir  Stamford 
sailed  on  his  mission  to  Acheen,  leaving  the  colonel  in  charge 
of  the  newly-formed  settlement.  After  some  communication 
with  the  Tumonggong  as  to  Sultan  Houssain  it  appeared 
that  there  was  a  difference  among  the  Malays  as  to  their 
sultan,  and  that,  in  consequence  of  the  last  sultan's  death 
having  taken  place  unexpectedly  before  suitable  arrange- 
ments could  be  made  for  the  succession,  the  throne  at 
present  was  irregularly  occupied.  Tuanku  Abdulrahman 
was  younger  brother  to  Tuanku  Houssain,  who  ought  to 
have  been  sultan,  but  was  kept  out  of  his  rights  by  the  Rajah 
Mudah  Jaffir,  who  was  at  enmity  with  the  relatives  of  his 
mother,  and,  finding  the  weak  and  complying  disposition 
of  Tuanku  Abdulrahman  suited  to  his  purposes,  had 
patronised  the  younger  prince,  in  whose  name  he  ruled  the 
country.  On  inquiring  further  Colonel  Farquliar  was 
informed  that  the  late  Sultan  Mahamed,  before  his  death, 
had  arranged  that  Houssain,  his  eldest  son,  should  succeed, 
and  that  Abdulrahman,  the  yomiger,  who  showed  a  reserved 


310  JAVA 

and  timid  disposition,  should  perform  the  Haj  with  a  view 
to  the  priesthood.  Houssain,  as  heir  presumptive,  was  sent 
to  Pahang,  in  order  to  complete  an  alliance  with  the  daughter 
of  the  Bandahara  ;  his  father,  the  Sultan,  accompanied  him 
part  of  the  way,  and  soon  after,  on  his  return  to  Lingga,  died, 
not  without  a  suspicion  of  poison.  On  his  death  Jaffir,  in 
order  to  fulfil  one  of  the  requirements  of  a  royal  funeral, 
induced  Abdulrahman  to  allow  himself  to  be  installed  as 
sultan.  The  north  monsoon,  at  that  time  in  full  strength, 
prevented  any  communication  witli  Houssain  at  Pahang, 
and  it  was  not  for  some  months  after  that  he  could  come 
down.  When  he  arrived  he  found  the  Kajah  Mudah  too 
strong  for  him,  and  in  consequence  he  was  obliged  to  give 
way. 

With  this  information,  which  Colonel  Farquhar  trans- 
mitted to  Sir  Stamford,  it  became  a  question  how  far  it  was 
advisable  to  inquire  further  into  the  matter  of  the  better 
title  of  Houssain.  As  the  rights  of  the  English  at  the  new 
settlement  w^ould  entirely  depend  on  the  question.  Sir 
Stamford,  on  his  return  from  Acheen  in  June,  determined 
to  recognise  Houssain.  On  that  prince  being  sent  for  by 
the  Tumonggong  he  was  installed  publicly  as  Sultan,  and 
with  the  Tumonggong  executed  a  fresh  treaty.  The  treaty 
provided  shortly  as  follows  : — 

Firstly.  The  occupation  by  the  English  of  a  tract  of  land 
extending  from  Tandjong  Malang  on  the  west  to  Tandjong 
Katong  on  the  east,  and  inland  as  far  as  the  range  of  a 
cannon  shot  from  the  factory.  (The  jurisdiction  within  this 
tract  was  to  belong  to  the  English,  excepting  the  campongs 
of  the  Sultan  and  Tumonggong.) 

Secondly.  Justice  was  to  be  administered  jointly  by  the 
Sultan  and  Tumonggong  under  the  English  Eesident. 

Thirdly.  Captains  and  heads  of  tribes  were  to  attend  and 
report  occurrences  every  Monday  morning  and  to  adjudicate 
in  minor  matters. 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.   RAFFLES  311 

Fourthly.  An  appeal  was  allowed  from  decisions  of 
captains  and  heads  of  tribes. 

Fifthly.  No  customs  or  duties  were  to  be  levied,  or  other 
important  matter  to  be  decided,  without  the  consent  of  the 
sultan,  Tumonggong,  and  of  the  Resident. 

Such  was  the  primitive  constitution  under  which  Singapore 
was  settled,  and  under  which  it  rapidly  rose  to  importance. 

The  question  to  whom  is  due  the  credit  of  fixing  on  the 
site  of  Singapore  for  the  great  emporium  has  been  much 
discussed,  and  as  it  is  one  of  some  interest  a  few  remarks 
may  be  here  allowed. 

Sir  Stamford's  first  idea  was  to  have  a  port  in  the  Sunda 
Straits,  and  writing  in  x\pril,  1818,  he  says  :  "To  effect  the 
object  contemplated  some  convenient  station  within  the 
archipelago  is  necessary  ;  both  Bencoolen  and  Prince  of 
Wales  Island  are  too  far  removed,  and  unless  I  can  succeed 
in  obtaining  a  position  in  the  Straits  of  Smida,  we  have  no 
alternative  but  to  fix  it  in  the  most  advantageous  situation 
we  can  find  within  the  archipelago  :  this  would  be  some- 
where m  the  neighbourhood  of  Bintang."  In  the  same 
letter  he  goes  on  to  say,  "  another  station  at  Rhio,  or  its 
vicinity."^ 

Writing  from  Calcutta  on  the  14th  November,  1818,  he 
says  :  "I  have  to  inform  you  that  it  is  determined  to  keep 
the  command  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca  by  forming  establish- 
ments at  Acheen  and  Rhio."  Again,  writing  to  Marsden 
from  Sand  Heads,^  under  date  the  12th  December,  1818,  he 
says  :  "  We  are  noAv  on  our  way  to  the  eastward,  in  the  hope 
of  doing  something,  but  I  much  fear  the  Dutch  have  hardly 
left  us  an  inch  of  ground  to  stand  upon.  My  attention  is 
principally  turned  to  Johore,  and  you  must  not  be  surprised 
if  my  next  letter  to  you  is  dated  from  the  site  of  the  ancient 

^  Rhio  is  a  small  island  separated  by  a  narrow  strait  from  the  island  of 
Bintang,  or  properly  "  Bentan." 
^  Mouth  of  Calcutta  river. 


312  JAVA 

city  of  Singapura."  John  Crawfurd^  states  that  the 
Carimons  were  the  origmal  objective  of  Sir  Stamford.  Lady 
Raffles,  however,  says  that  the  Carimons  were  only  surveyed 
out  of  deference  to  Colonel  Farquhar,  who  had,  while  at 
Malacca,  fixed  on  these  islands  as  a  fit  situation.  Finally, 
it  would  appear  clear,  both  from  native  and  European 
authority,  that  he  went  into  Singapore  casually,  at  Colonel 
Farquhar's  suggestion,  to  obtain  information  from  Farquhar's 
friend,  the  Tumonggong,  whom  the  latter  had  known  while 
employed  at  Malacca.  There  is,  however,  nothing  in  this 
to  prevent  Sir  Stamford,  especially  in  view  of  his  letter  to 
Marsden  of  the  12th  December,  1818  (which  was  received 
by  him  five  or  six  months  later),  from  fully  intending  to  fix 
on  Singapore  ;  but  knowing  it  was  the  last  card  the  English 
could  play,  he  purposely  kept  his  secret  from  every  one,  and 
allowed  Colonel  Farquhar  to  think  they  were  just  calling  in 
at  Singapore  by  chance  on  his  suggestion,  whereas  be  had 
fully  intended  to  do  so  all  the  time  as  a  result  of  the  idea 
given  him  by  Farquhar.  He  had  seen  how  Rhio  had  slipped 
through  their  fingers,  and  this  time  he  was  determined  not 
to  allow  the  Dutch  to  have  any  inkling  of  his  intentions. 

Whatever  doubt,  however,  may  arise  as  to  whether  the 
exact  locality  of  Singapore  was  the  fruit  of  an  accident  or 
of  a  preconceived  plan,  there  can  be  no  hesitation  in  stating 
that  its  advance  was  entirely  due  to  the  energy  and  influence 
of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles. 

The  Penang  Government,  after  the  failure  of  its  own 
endeavour  to  form  a  subordinate  station  to  the  south,  was 
not  very  well  pleased  that  one  of  its  servants  should  be 
permitted  to  attempt  what  it  had  itself  failed  in  doing  and 
declared  to  be  impossible.  It  had  always  watched  the 
proceedings  of  Sir  Stamford  with  suspicion,  and  when  the 
principles  on  which  his  new  settlement  was  to  be  adminis- 
tered became  known  it  felt  bound  to  offer  every  opposition 
1  See  Ms  account  of  the  mission  to  Siam. 


OFFICERS     QUARTKRS. 


THK    KIVKK    OSSO. 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.   S.   RAFFLES  313 

in  its  power,  as  it  quickly  foresaw  its  own  decline  and  ruin 
from  the  prosperity  of  a  neighbouring  settlement  conducted 
on  such  opposite  principles.  Its  protests  to  Bengal  and  to 
the  Home  authorities  had  the  effect  of  cooling  the  support 
with  which  Sir  Stamford's  proceedings  had  been  favoured 
by  both  these  high  authorities  ;  but  another  and  a  more 
formidable  adversary  had  to  be  met,  and  in  a  field  where 
Indian  influence  had  less  weight. 

The  Dutch  had  seen  with  indignation  and  dismay  the 
efforts  of  the  English  to  encroach  on  their  territories  at  the 
south  of  the  peninsula.  In  former  times  they  had  had  the 
exclusive  jurisdiction  over  the  whole  peninsula  from  Perak 
downwards.  On  Malacca  being  restored  to  them  in  1818 
they  considered  that  all  their  former  rights  and  immunities 
accompanied  that  restoration,  and  in  consequence  any 
attempt  by  the  English  or  any  other  European  nation  on 
the  Malay  peninsula  to  be  an  infringement  of  their  exclusive 
rights. 

The  proceedings  of  Sir  Stamford  RafHes,  who  had  already 
distinguished  himself  by  his  opposition  to  their  interests, 
were  looked  on  as  past  all  bearing,  and  the  strongest  remon- 
strances were  made  to  the  Indian  Government  as  well  as  to 
the  Foreign  Office  in  England. 

Dutch  Indian  affairs  had  been  for  some  time  under  the 
Crown,  and  the  complaint  now  brought  before  the  British 
Ministers  of  the  improper  conduct  of  the  English  Company 
and  its  servants  in  the  Indian  Archipelago  was  urged  forward 
against  the  feeble  efforts  of  the  corporation  with  all  the 
weight  and  authority  of  the  Dutch  ambassador.  It  is 
obvious  that  with  the  lukewarm  and  almost  powerless 
authorities  at  home  and  in  India  Sir  Stamford  RafHes  and 
his  Settlement,  if  not  otherwise  protected,  must  have  been 
at  once  offered  up  as  a  peace-offering  to  the  Dutch  ;  and  it 
is  here  that  the  credit  is  due  to  Sir  Stamford  in  having 
carried  his  project  to  a  successful  termination.     He  had 


314  JAVA 

early  foreseen  the  battle  which  must  be  fought  at  home, 
and  had  provided  friends  to  support  his  settlement.  The 
long  struggle  from  1819  to  1824,  when  the  question  was 
finally  settled,  was  only  kept  up  by  the  aid  of  powerful 
influences  which  Sir  Stamford  had  secured  by  his  picture 
of  the  incalculable  benefits  which  his  settlement,  if  properly 
supported,  would  confer  on  British  trade.  To  these 
influences,  supplying  to  the  Foreign  Secretary  a  sufficient 
motive  to  resist  the  Dutch  demands,  must  be  attributed  the 
long  resistance  made  to  those  demands  in  a  question  to 
which  the  Company  and  the  Home  and  Bengal  Governments 
were  indifferent  and  the  Penang  Government  decidedly 
hostile. 

After  remaining  a  few  weeks  at  Singapore,  giving  instruc- 
tions as  to  laying  out  the  town  and  forming  provisional 
arrangements  for  the  government  of  the  new  Settlement, 
Sir  Stamford  returned  to  Bencoolen,  where  he  occupied 
himself,  as  before,  in  endeavours  to  improve  the  condition 
of  the  people,  as  well  as  to  elevate  the  tone  of  society  at 
that  residency,  till  the-^month  of  October,  when  the  news 
arrived  of  the  death  of  Colonel  Bannerman,  Governor  at 
Penang.  In  his  last  visit  to  Bengal  Sir  Stamford  had 
proposed  to  consolidate  the  Eastern  possessions  under  one 
governor  residing  at  Singapore,  with  residents  at  each  of 
the  stations  of  Bencoolen,  Penang,  etc.  The  plan  was 
favourably  received,  under  the  influence  of  the  almost 
expiring  interest  in  Eastern  affairs  which  had  guided  Lord 
Minto's  policy  in  that  direction.  A  difficulty,  however, 
existed  in  the  disposal  of  the  Governor  of  Penang,  as,  of 
course.  Sir  Stamford  would  himself  have  been  head  under 
the  proposed  arrangement.  This  difficulty  now  overcome. 
Sir  Stamford  proceeded  to  Bengal  again  to  urge  his  plan  on 
the  notice  of  the  supreme  Government.  By  this  time,  how- 
ever, other  matters  of  more  pressing  interest  were  occupying 
the  Government,  and  in  consequence  impediments,  one  of 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.   S.   RAFFLES  315 

the  cliief  of  which  was  the  difficulty  of  breaking  up  the 
Penang  Government,  were  allowed  to  interfere  to  prevent 
an  arrangement  which  Avould  most  probably  have  placed 
British  interests  in  the  archipelago  and  the  surrounding 
countries  on  a  firm  footing,  and  have  obviated  the  dis- 
advantages now  felt  in  the  practical  suppression  of  British 
commerce  with  three-fourths  of  the  archipelago,  which  the 
Dutch  had  been  permitted  virtually  to  monopolise. 

Another  scheme  of  Sir  Stamford's  may  be  here  properly 
mentioned.  He  conceived  the  design  of  reducing  and 
colonising  the  whole  island  of  Sumatra.  His  plan  was  to 
re-estabhsh  a  central  authority  (himself)  ;  to  open  up  all 
the  navigable  rivers  flowing  into  the  Straits  of  Malacca  ;  to 
hold  the  west  coast  stations  as  military  posts,  commanding 
the  rivers  and  the  interior  of  the  country  ;  to  open  a  great 
central  road  through  the  whole  length  oi  Sumatra  ;  to 
assume  the  position  of  protector  of  the  native  States  ;^  to 
introduce  20,000  or  30,000  Enghsh  colonists  ;  and  in  fact 
to  make  a  colony  as  valuable  to  English  trade  as  all  the 
West  India  Islands.  This  magnificent  result  was  to  be 
accomplished  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  the  yearly  expenditure 
at  Bencoolen. 

Disappointed  in  his  hopes  arising  from  the  vacancy  at 
Penang,  Sir  Stamford  returned  to  Bencoolen,  there  to  await 
the  result  of  the  references  made  to  the  Dutch  and  English 
Home  authorities  as  to  Singapore.  While  thus  waiting,  his 
energetic  mind  found  occupation  in  promoting  agriculture 
at  that  station. 

He  early  saw  that  Singapore  would  draw  off  the  little 
trade  his  liberal  port  regulations  were  bringing  together  at 
Bencoolen,  and.  as  the  settlement  must  then  depend  on  its 
internal  resources,  he  endeavoured  to  increase  agricultural 
production.    The  land  surrounding  his  own  house,  which  he 

*  On  a  former  occasion  lie  recommended  to  Lord  Minto  to  assume  the 
title  of  "  Bitara,"  in  imitation  of  the  former  Hindu  sovereigns  of  Majapalut. 


316  JAVA 

had  built  in  the  country,  was  planted  with  a  variety  of  tropical 
fruits,  spices,  coffee,  etc.  ;  the  Government  officers  were 
encouraged  to  plant  spice  trees  ;  the  convicts  were  employed 
in  agricultural  labour  ;  every  one  was  called  on  to  grow 
sufficient  grain  for  his  own  consumption  ;  and  finally  the 
system  of  the  forced  growing  of  pepper  by  the  natives,  under 
the  semblance  of  a  contract,  was  abolished.  This  policy 
had  the  effect  of  improving  the  condition  of  the  people,  and 
added  materially  to  the  value  of  the  settlement.  The 
Englishmen  engaged  in  spice  planting  set  the  example  of 
enterprise,  perseverance,  and  liberal  expenditure  of  capital, 
which  has  always  been  attended  by  the  happiest  results, 
and  the  effect  of  which  is  the  surest  proof  oi  the  vast  benefits 
which  necessarily  accompany  the  residence  of  the  European 
in  these  countries.  It  was  an  unfortunate  circumstance  that 
the  result  of  this  official  spice  planting  was  not  satisfactory 
to  those  concerned  ;•  nearly  all  of  them  were  ruined  at  the 
subsequent  transfer  of  the  settlement  to  the  Dutch,  when 
their  properties  were  sold  at  almost  nominal  prices.  The 
English  families  of  Bencoolen — the  Anguses,  Bogles, 
Bradleys,  Greens,  Burnetts,  Coles,  Days,  Gibsons,  Grants, 
Lewises,  Leicesters,  Mitfords,  Palmers,  Eogers,  Hays,  and 
many  others — still  lingered  on  here,  however,  until  well  into 
the  sixties,  gradually  dying  out  under  depressing  circum- 
stances, or  leaving  offspring  who  for  a  living  had  gradually 
reverted  to  the  campongs. 

The  nature  of  Sir  Stamford's  political  duties  had  brought 
him  much  in  unfriendly  contact  with  the  Dutch.  After  the 
foundation  of  Singapore  his  connection  with  that  settlement 
heightened  the  feeling,  already  sufficiently  bad,  and  he  could 
see  neither  justice  nor  moderation  in  the  actions  of  his 
opponents.  The  recollection  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
North  America,  Ceylon,  South  America,  the  Spice  Islands, 
the  West  India  Islands,  Java,  Sumatra,  all  the  Dutch 
colonial  possessions  successively  wrested  from  this  great 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.  S.    RAFFLES  317 

nation  during  a  time  of  affliction  and  tribulation  had  no 
effect  to  soften  his  exasperated  feehngs  ;  and  he  would  have 
confined  it  to  the  narrowest  bounds  in  these  seas  wherever 
it  w^as  opposed  to  British  supremacy.  His  ideas  on  the 
subject  found  vent  in  a  "  protest  "  against  Dutch  aggi'ession, 
which  protest,  with  the  remarks  of  the  old  enemy,  the  Dutch 
Ambassador  at  St.  James's,  was  brought  forward  in  Parlia- 
ment, when  Lord  Bathurst,  worn  out  by  constant  complaints, 
felt  called  on  to  declare  that  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  had 
exceeded  his  authority,  that  he  was,  in  fact,  a  "  mere 
pepper-collecting  agent  of  the  East  India  Company,"  and 
had  no  power  to  interfere  in  such  matters.  At  the  India 
House  Sir  Stamford  fared  no  better.  His  measures  were 
totally  disapproved  :  the  Directors  censured  him  for 
emancipating  the  Company's  slaves,  for  opening  the  port 
of  Bencoolen,  and  for  abolishing  the  gambling  and  cock- 
fighting  farms. 

In  a  letter  from  Mr.  Grant,  one  of  the  Directors,  dated  the 
19th  July,  1820,  the  following  ominous  passage  occurs  : — 

"  You  are  probably  aware  of  the  obstacles  which  you  have 
opposed  to  the  adoption  of  your  measures,  and  even  threatened 
your  position  in  the  service  :  your  zeal  considerably  outstripped 
your  prudence,  and  the  first  operations  of  it  became  known  at  an 
unfavourable  juncture." 

With  all  the  authorities  of  his  own  country  now  against 
him,  with  the  embittered  opposition  of  the  Dutch,  influen- 
tially  voiced  as  it  was  at  the  Foreign  Office,  Sir  Stamford, 
his  new  colony  and  his  policy,  would  inevitably  have  been 
overwhelmed  had  he  not  succeeded  in  enlisting  a  powerful 
mercantile  feeling  in  his  favour.  The  Indian  trade  had  just 
been  opened,  and  the  pubhc  feeling  was  still  excited  as  to 
the  immense  advantages  to  be  derived  to  the  nation  from  a 
participation  in  that  trade  ;  here  was  anIEnglish  colony, 
settled  in  the  centre  of  the  trade  of  at  least  thirty  centuries. 


318  JAVA 

and  that  colony  flourishing  in  a  manner  without  parallel  in 
mercantile  history.  It  is  most  probably  to  the  mercantile 
interest  excited  in  favour  of  Singapore  that  we  are  indebted 
for  its  preservation  ;  once  established  and  ruled  under  the 
statesmanlike  liberality  of  Sir  Stamford's  regulations  its 
progress  was  rapid,  and  although  he  was  thwarted  by  the 
insubordination  and  narrow  views  of  his  subordinates  in 
the  management  of  the  infant  colony,  the  foundations  of  his 
measures  were  so  solid  that  minor  difficulties  were  overcome. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  any  examination  of  the 
differences  which  occurred  between  Sir  Stamford  and  the 
first  Resident  of  Singapore,  Colonel  Farquliar.  It  is  doubt- 
ful from  the  records  of  his  rule  whether  the  Resident  ever 
saw  in  that  station  more  than  a  mere  village,  fitted  for  the 
accumulation  of  a  small  supply  of  goods,  and  the  temporary 
residence  of  traders.  Thus,  while  Sir  Stamford  was  founding 
a  settlement  which  was  to  be  second  to  none  in  Asia,  his 
subordinate  confined  his  views  to  present  requirements  and 
thought  not  for  an  instant  of  its  brilliant  future. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  presence  of  the  Resident 
and  the  influence  arising  among  the  natives  from  his  long 
service  at  Malacca  induced  many  natives  to  come  to  Singa- 
pore to  settle  and  to  supply  provisions,  stores,  etc.  ;  but  it 
may  well  be  doubted  whether  the  irregularities  permitted 
in  a  weak  administration,  peculiarly  subject  to  native 
influence,  and  governed  by  native  ideas,  did  not  counter- 
balance such  benefits. 

On  his  last  visit  to  Singapore  Sir  Stamford  had  the  proud 
satisfaction  to  find  his  colony  successful  beyond  his  most 
sanguine  expectations. 

When  the  flag  was  first  hoisted  it  was  merely  a  fishing 
village  with  scarcely  300  inhabitants,  men,  women,  and 
children,  all  told  ;  in  three  months  there  were  3,000  ;  and 
now  he  found  a  population  of  10,000  souls  and  a  trade 
aggregating  £2,000,000.     The  shipping,  too,  had  already 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.   S.   RAFFLES  319 

taken  large  proportions,  every  vessel  to  and  from  the  East 
calling  here  for  water  and  supplies. 

Sir  Stamford  now  set  about  preparing  a  code  of  laws  and 
estabhshing  more  suitable  courts  of  justice,  to  be  worked 
under  the  treaty  which  he  concluded  with  the  native  chiefs. 

He  appointed  committees  to  lay  out  and  improve  the 
town,  and  effected  various  other  arrangements.  Li  all  his 
work  he  was  assisted  by  a  fine  body  of  mercantile  men, 
prominent  among  whom  were  A.  L.  Johnstone,  J.  A. 
Maxwell,  Hugh  Syme,  D.  A.  Fraser,  Charles  Scott,  John 
Purvis,  John  Morgan,  C.  R.  Read,  A.  Guthrie,  Alexander 
Morgan,  G.  Finlayson,  Alexander  Hay,  W.  G.  Mackenzie, 
William  Paton,  and  others. 

Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  want  of  detailed  knowledge 
by  Su-  Stamford  in  the  matter  of  law-making,  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  his  ideas  were  far-seeing  and  liberal.  He  set 
the  example  of  entrusting  the  European  residents  with  a 
degree  of  power  commensurate  with  their  position  in  the 
community,  as  appears  in  the  following  passage  in  a  letter 
to  the  Supreme  Government,  dated  29th  March,  1823  : — 

"  I  am  satisfied  that  nothing  has  tended  more  to  the  discomfort 
and  constant  j  airings  which  have  hitherto  occurred  in  our  remote 
settlements  than  the  poHcy  which  has  dictated  the  exclusion 
of  the  European  merchants  from  aU  share,  much  less  credit,  in 
the  domestic  regulation  of  the  settlement,  of  which  they  are 
frequently  its  most  important  members." 

During  this  visit  Sir  Stamford,  fmding  this  course  neces- 
sary to  the  well-being  of  the  station,  suspended  the  Resident, 
Colonel  Farquhar,  and  took  the  management  of  the  whole 
settlement  upon  himself  till  the  4th  June,  1823,  when  John 
Crawfm^d,^  of  the  Bengal  Medical  Service,  and  late  Resident 
in  Java,  now  on  a  mission  as  ambassador  to  Siam,  arrived. 
Crawfurd  was  appointed  Resident  by  the  supreme  Govern- 

1  Full  particulars  of  Crawfurd  will  be  given  when  tke  further  matter 
referred  to  in  tlie  Preface  is  published, 


320  JAVA 

ment,  under  whose  authority  the  settlement  was  m  future 
to  be  directly  placed. 

On  the  6th  June,  1823,  Sir  Stamford  EafHes  paid  his  final 
farewell  to  Singapore,  having  now  brought  it  to  a  state  of 
prosperity  with  which  even  he  was  satisfied.  To  John 
Crawfurd,  the  new  Resident,  he  gave  his  final  instructions 
as  to  the  government  of  the  colony,  leaving  it  to  him  to 
uphold  the  honour  of  the  English  in  the  archipelago. 

On  his  departure  he  received  a  lengthy  address  from  the 
merchants  of  Singapore  under  Alexander  Morgan  thanking 
him  for  his  unwearied  zeal  and  vigilance  and  for  his  com- 
prehensive views,  which  had  enabled  the  settlement  to  go 
forward  with  such  unparalleled  success. 

He  now  returned  to  Bencoolen,  the  ship  on  which  he 
travelled,  the  Hero  of  Maloiv7i,  calling  at  Batavia  to  land 
goods  on  the  28th  June,  1823. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  Raffles  was  in  the  roads  the 
greatest  consternation  arose  amongst  the  Dutch  officials, 
and  the  Governor-General,  Baron  van  der  Capellen,  came 
down  from  his  country  seat  at  Buitenzorg.  To  such  a 
height  had  the  animosity  of  the  Dutch  authorities  at  Java 
agamst  him  gone  that  they  would  not  allow  him  to  land, 
and  only  as  a  special  mark  of  consideration  to  Lady  Raffles, 
who  was  suffering  badly  on  a  wretched  ship,  was  she,  owing 
to  her  delicate  state  of  health,  permitted  to  come  on  shore 
and  remain  with  the  Macquoid  family.  During  the  stay  of 
the  Hero  oj  Maloivn  in  the  Batavia  roads  the  ship  was 
visited  by  thousands  of  natives  and  by  the  whole  British 
colony,  among  whom  were  John  Deans,  Captain  J.  Drury, 
R.N.,  Thomas  Macquoid,  A.  L.  Forestier,  John  Davidson, 
Captain  C.  W.  Allen,  John  Greig,  G.  Haswell,  John  Hay, 
P.  Jessen,  J.  Milne,  0.  M.  Roberts,  James  Wilson,  G. 
Maclaine,  E.  Watson,  J.  Traill,  W.  Thompson,  Thomas 
Anderson,  Robert  Morris,  etc.  Another  instance  of  the 
feeling  of  the  Dutch  against  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  at  this 


LIFE   OF   SIR  T.   S.   RAFFLES  321 

moment  was  the  fact  that  the  usual  official  circular  from 
him  communicating  the  change  of  government  at  Singapore, 
sent  to  Batavia  in  common  with  the  other  neighbouring 
countries,  was  returned  unanswered. 

Sir  Stamford's  mission  was  now  complete  ;  his  health  had 
suffered  very  much  of  late,  he  had  lost  three  of  his  children,^ 
and  there  appeared  to  be  no  further  work  for  him  to  do  in 
these  seas.  He  therefore  set  about  preparing  for  his  final 
return  to  England.  He  had  his  immense  collection  of 
books,  manuscripts,  drawings,  maps,  preserved  specimens 
of  natural  history,  etc.,  packed  into  boxes,  of  which  there 
were  such  numbers  as  to  require  a  large  proportion  of  the 
ship's  freight  for  their  accommodation. 

There  was  here  collected  the  fruit  of  years  of  patient 
labour  and  inquiry  into  the  literature  of  the  Malays,  Javans, 
etc.,  and  the  finest  and  most  complete  collection  of  books  in 
those  languages  ever  made. 

The  materials  from  which  to  have  drawn  up  an  account  of 
the  archipelago,  more  complete  in  its  various  details  than 
any  yet  given,  and  to  have  formed  the  nucleus  of  a  valuable 
museum,  were  lost  in  the  burning  of  the  ship  Favie  on  the 
3rd  February,  1824,^  the  day  after  her  departure  from  Ben- 
coolen.  Sir  Stamford,  after  seeing  the  labour  of  seventeen 
years  thus  gone  in  an  hour,  set  about,  after  his  fortunate 
escape  and  return  to  Bencoolen,  bringing  together  duplicate 
collections.  Again,  on  the  8th  April,  Sir  Stamford,  with  his 
wife  and  family,  embarked  on  the  ship  Mariner  in  company 
with  the  ship  Lady  Flora  (Captain  McDonnell),  and  arrived 
safely  after  a  perilous  and  stormy  passage  at  Plymouth  on 
the  22nd  August,  1824. 

Raffles'  health  now  began  to  fail  him,  and  when  he  found 

»  Two  to  Ms  great  grief  he  buried  at  Bencoolen. 

2  Tlie  ship  was  fifty  miles  from  land,  when,  owing  to  the  carelessness  of 
the  steward  going  with  a  naked  hght  to  draw  some  brandy  from  a  cask  and 
letting  this  fall,  in  a  few  minutes  the  ship  was  in  flames  from  end  to  end. 
Fortimately  no  lives  were  lost. 

J. — VOL.  I.  Y 


822  JAVA 

that  the  Company  instead  of  recognising  with  thanks  his 
labours  preferred  complaints  against  him  and  heaped 
reproaches  upon  his  head,  he  got  his  death-blow.  His  joy 
in  life  was  as  great  as  ever,  but  his  ardour  was  cooled  and 
his  hopes  had  gone.  The  Directors  had  done  their  worst, 
and  on  the  5th  of  July  this  brave  man,  one  of  the  finest 
examples  that  old  England  has  ever  sent  forth,  noble,  just, 
honest,  loyal,  and  true,  answered  the  summons  to  the  throne 
of  God  in  his  45fch  year. 

His  last  and  often-expressed  hope  was  that  he  had  experi- 
enced sufficient  trials  to  purify  his  soul,  and  he  humbly 
trusted  that  the  many  and  heavy  afflictions  with  which  he 
had  been  visited  were  sanctified  by  the  grace  of  the  Almighty 
God,  the  Euler  of  the  Universe,  and  were  made  instrumental, 
through  faith  in  a  Saviour,  to  prepare  him  for  the  world 
where  sorrow  and  sighing  are  no  more. 

Thus  was  Sir  Stamford  Eaffles  cut  off  in  his  prime  at  a 
moment  when  his  friends  still  expected  a  long  life  of  labour 
in  the  cause  of  philanthropy. 

Looking  back  after  a  century  on  his  record  in  Java,  so 
learned  and  eminent  a  Dutch  official  as  Dr.  F.  de  Haan,^  who 
has  had  the  means  of  studying  his  governorship,  is  able  to 
state  that  Sir  Stamford  was  an  honest,  upright,  and  straight- 
forward Governor,  who  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions, 
and  did  his  best,  regardless  of  race  or  creed,  for  the  people 
placed  under  his  care. 

This  is  a  testimony  of  the  highest  value,  and  still  more  so 
coming  from  a  Dutchman.  This  is,  however,  not  the  only 
Dutchman  who  approved  his  administration  of  Java,  as  will 
be  observed  from  Chapter  IX. 

Of  one  thing  all  Englishmen  can  make  quite  certain,  that 
had  it  not  been  for  this  great  and  far-seeing  statesman 
England  would  have  no  place  in  the  East  Indian  Archipelago 
or  in  the  Malay  Peninsular  to-day. 

*  The  keeper  of  the  records  at  Batavia. 


LIFE   OF   SIR   T.    S.    RAFFLES  323 

Sir  Stamford  Raffles  was  buried  in  the  church  at  Hendon, 
but  it  is  regrettable  to  learn  from  a  very  able  letter  Mr. 
Arnold  Wright  sent  to  The  Times  in  March,  1912,  that  "  the 
exact  position  of  his  grave  is  unknown,  although  tradition 
points  to  a  spot  close  to  the  third  window  in  the  south  front 
of  the  sacred  building  as  being  the  site,  but  there  is  not  a 
vestige  of  real  evidence."  ^ 

May  his  soul  rest  in  peace. 

>  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  was  twice  married — ^firstly  to  the  widow  of 
W.  Fancourt,  of  Lanark,  in  1805,  who  died  at  Buitenzorg,  in  Java,  in  1815 
(see  Chapter  XII.) ;  secondly,  in  1817,  to  Sophia  Hull,  a  daughter  of 
I.  W.  Hull,  Esq.,  of  the  county  of  Down,  who  survived  him. 

To  compose  and  complete  this  chapter.  Lady  Raffles'  "Memoirs"  and  a 
pamphlet  on  his  Hfe  in  the  old  journal  of  the  archipelago  have  been  freely 
made  use  of. 

A  tablet  exists  in  Hendon  Church,  which  reads  as  follows  : — 


In  memory  of 
SIR   THOMAS    STAMFORD    RAFFLES, 

F.B.S.,  LL.D.,  etc. 

Statesman,  Administrator  and  Naturalist, 

Founder  of  the  Colony  and  City  of  Singapore, 

January  29th,  1819. 

Born  July  5th,  1781.     Died  at  Highwood,  Middlesex, 

July  5th,  1826, 

and  buried  near  this  tablet. 

Erected  in  1887  by  Members  of  the  Family. 


In  Westminster  Abbey  there  is  a  statue  to  him,  in  the  choir,  north  aisle  ; 
it  was  executed  by  Chantry,  and  cost  the  country  £2,000. 


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CHAPTER  VIII 

The  British  Expedition  to  Java,  1811 

After  our  digression  on  the  life  of  Raffles  we  now  return 
to  our  history. 

The  expedition  for  Java  being  ready,  the  first  division, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Robert  Rollo  Gillespie, 
sailed  for  Malacca  via  Penang  from  Madras  on  the  18th  April, 
1811,  under  the  convoy  of  Captain  Cole,  of  H.M.S.  Caroline. 

The  remainder  sailed  a  week  later  under  Major-General 
Wetherall. 

On  the  18th  May  the  expedition  arrived  at  the  first 
rendezvous,  Penang  Harbour. 

The  Commander-in-Chief,  Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty,  in  the 
frigate  Akhar,  and  Lord  Minto,  in  the  frigate  Modeste,  had 
also  arrived.  On  the  1st  June  it  was  at  Malacca,  where  the 
troops  from  Bengal,  under  convoy  of  Captain  Edgell,  of 
H.M.S.  Cornelia,  had  already  arrived,  as  also  the  commodore, 
Broughton. 

The  first  thing  Lord  Minto  did  on  his  arrival  was  to  make 
a  bonfire  of  the  various  instruments  of  torture,  such  as  the 
rack,  the  wheel,  and  so  forth,  which  had  been  in  use  by  the 
Dutch. 

On  the  11th  June,  the  army  having  been  brigaded,  the 
different  convoys  got  under  weigh. 

The  Bengal  division  sailed  first,  followed  by  the  first 
division  from  Madras,  and  so  on  in  succession.  On  the 
15th  June  the  Straits  of  Singapore  were  entered. 

Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty  was  now  deliberating  with  his  two 
engineers,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mackenzie  and  Lieutenant 
Blakiston,  who  had  been  entrusted  with  the  occupation 
plans,  where  he  was  to  land.     The  choice  was  for  Batavia, 


326 


JAVA 


but  it  had  come  to  these  officers'  knowledge  that  the  Dutch 
division  from  Sourabaya  had  been  moved  up  there,  which 
made  Sir  Samuel  think  Cheribon  would  be  more  advisable 
for  the  landing. 

On  the  30th  July  the  fleet  was  off  the  Indramayoe  river 
and  proceeded  towards  Batavia.  Colonel  Mackenzie  had 
gone  ahead  to  reconnoitre,  and  returned  with  the  advice 
that  it  was  better  to  land  at  the  village  of  Chillingching, 
which  lay  on  the  coast  only  about  ten  miles  from  Batavia. 

Whilst  reconnoitring  Colonel  Mackenzie  landed  with  a 
few  men,  but  was  surprised  by  the  enemy.  He  himself 
managed  to  escape,  but  an  officer  and  several  men  of  the 
69th  Eegiment  were  taken  prisoners.  It  appeared,  however, 
afterwards  that  the  enemy  learnt  nothing  from  them,  as 
they  pretended  they  were  marines. 

On  the  3rd  August  the  fleet  was  off  Cape  Krawang,  and 
the  next  morning  off  the  Marandi  river.  At  2  o'clock  a 
portion  of  the  fleet  arrived,  and  at  4  o'clock  on  Sunday,  the 
4th,  the  whole  fleet  being  off  Chillingching,  the  signal  was 
made  for  the  troops  to  land. 

The  fleet  employed  in  this  expedition  consisted  of  the 
following  ships  : — 

Line  of  Battleships. 
Scipion,  Rear- Admiral  Stopford,  joined  at  Batavia. 
Illustrious,  Commodore  Broughton,  Captain  Festing. 
MiTiden,  Captain  Hoare. 
Lion,  Captain  Heathcote. 

Frigates. 


Akbar,  Captain  Drury. 
Doris,  Captain  Lye. 
Nisus,  Captain  Beaver. 
President,  Captain  Warren. 
Bucephalus,  Captain  Pelly. 
Phoebe,  Captain  Hillyar. 
Modeste,  Captain  George  Elliot 
(son  of  Lord  Minto). 


Hussar,  Captain  Crawford. 
Drake,  Captain  Harris. 
Phaeton,  Captain  Pellew. 
Leda,  Captain  Sayer. 
Caroline,  Captain  Cole. 
Cornelia,  Captain  Edgell. 
Pysche,  Captain  Edgecumbe. 


BRIDGE  OVER  THE  RIVEK  TJILEWOXG  AT  BATAVIA  BETWEEN'  PEGAXSAAX  AND 
MEESTER  CORXELIS,  WHERE  THE  GREAT  BATTLE  WAS  FOUGHT  BETWEEN 
EXGLISH,    FRENCH    AND    DUTCH    TROOPS    ON    AUGUST    •26tH,    1811. 


THE    SOURCES    OF    THE    TJILEWdNL     1;IVKI;. 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     327 


Sloops. 


Barracouta,  Captain  Owen. 
Hesper,  Captain  Reynolds. 
Hecate,  Captain  Peachey. 
Dasher,  Captain  Kelly. 


Samarang,  Captain  Drury.' 
Harpy,  Captain  Bain. 
Procris,  Captain  Mansell. 


Honourable  Company's  Cruisers. 


Malabar,    Captain   Hayes    and 

Captain  Maxfield. 
Aurora,  Captain  Watkins. 
Mornington,  Captain  Pearee. 
Nautilus,  Captain  Walker. 


Vestal,  Captain  Hall. 
Ariel,  Captain  Macdonald. 
Thetis,  Captain -Lieutenant 

PhilHps. 
Psyche 


and  fifty-seven  transports  and  several  gunboats,  amounting  in 
all  to  one  hundred  sail,  all  of  which  arrived  safely  at  Chilhngching, 
Batavia,  on  the  4th  August,  1811,  where  the  British  flag  was 
flown. 

The  army,  it  will  be  seen,  was  divided  into  four  brigades, 
one  forming  the  advance,  two  the  line,  and  one  the  reserve. 
The  following  is  the  general  abstract  of  the  army  on  the 
4th  Jane,  1811,  at  Malacca  : — 


Officers. 

Native 
Officers. 

Xoii- 

commissioned 

Officers  and 

Privates. 

Total. 

European  Force    . 
I^ative  Force 

200 
124 

324 

123 
123 

5,144 
6,530 

5,344 

5,777 

Pioneers,  Tiascars  . 

10,674 

11,121 
839 

Grand  Total 

11,960 

Of  this  number,  however,  about  twelve  hundred  were 
sick  at  Malacca  and  about  fifteen  hundred  on  landing  in 
Java. 

The  advance  under  Colonel  Gillespie  proceeded  first,  of 


328  JAVA 

course,  ashore,  and  immediately  moved  forward  to  gain 
possession  of  the  road  to  Meester  Cornehs. 

The  brigades  of  the  Hne  landed  next  and  moved  for  the 
road  to  Batavia. 

The  landing  was  excellent  and  without  mishap,  the  horse 
artillery,  the  horses  of  the  cavalry,  and  the  bullocks  for  the 
heavy  guns  being  landed  immediately  after  the  troops  were 
ashore. 

The  enemy  disappeared. 

General  Wetherall  marched  along  the  canal  to  the  Anjol 
river,  and  then  on  to  the  Batavia  road. 

The  labours  of  the  first  few  days  were  excessive,  and  man}'' 
died  of  sunstroke,  for  every  man  who  did  not  carry  a 
musket  had  to  carry  a  load,  and  all  were  on  the  march. 

Tandjong  Priok/  a  small  fishing  village,  was  occupied. 
The  Anjol  river  was  crossed  in  single  file  by  a  bridge  of  boats, 
rapidly  constructed  at  10  o'clock  at  night  by  Captain  Sayer, 
of  the  Leda,  and  Captains  Eeynolds  and  Mansell,  of  the 
Hesper  and  Procris,  At  dawn  the  next  day  (the  8th  August) 
the  troops  were  one  mile  from  Batavia,  and  Captains  Tylden 
and  Dickson,  A.D.C.  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  rode 
forward  with  an  escort  and  summoned  the  town,  returning 
with  the  mayor,  Hillobrink,  who  was  deputed  on  behalf  of 
the  civihans  to  beg  the  protection  of  the  English. 

All  the  private  houses  and  business  houses  of  Batavia 
were  deserted,  as  all  the  respectable  people  had  been  com- 
pelled by  Governor-General  Janssens  to  retire  into  the 
interior,  so  that  as  little  inteUigence  or  assistance  were 
given  to  the  enemy  as  possible. 

Two  companies  of  the  59th  Kegiment  under  Captain 
Watts,  and  accompanied  by  the  brigade-major.  Captain 
Thorn,  now  advanced  into  the  town,  upon  which  the  enemy's 
scouts  galloped  off  to  Weltervreden.^ 

1  The  harbour  had  not  yet  been  constructed. 

2  The  Malays  were  found  busy  removing  the  contents  of  the  stores,  and 
the  streets  were  strewed  with  sugar  and  coffee. 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     329 

Occupation  of  the  Town  House. — The  Town  House  (called 
Stadt  Huis)  was  now  occupied ;  the  adjutant-general, 
galloping  up,  read  a  proclamation  to  the  few  inhabitants 
left,  and  the  British  flag  was  hoisted.  The  fleet  in  the 
roads  now  fired  a  royal  salute. 

Colonel  Gillespie,  with  nearly  the  entire  advance,  arrived 
in  the  evening,  and  drew  up  in  the  square  in  front  of  the 
Town  House  and  dismissed  his  troops  to  their  various 
quarters  round  about. 

Captain  Eobison,  A.D.C.  to  Lord  Minto,  carried  a  sum- 
mons to  Governor-General  Janssens  at  10  p.m.  to  surrender 
the  island,  but  received  a  reply  from  him  that  as  a  French 
officer  he  could  not  comply  with  the  request.  The  last  part 
of  Captain  Robison's  journey  was  done  blindfold  and 
through  the  French  lines  ;  he  said  the  bustle  was  great,  and 
the  artillery  w^as  being  shifted.  French  officers  were  hanging 
about  everywhere. 

Fight  at  Glodok. — At  11  o'clock  at  night  the  troops  in  the 
Town  House  square  lay  down  to  sleep,  but  had  hardly  done 
so  when  the  picquet  at  the  bridge  over  the  river  on  the  way 
to  Weltervreden^  was  fired  upon.  Captain  Trench,  of  the 
89th  Regiment,  in  command  of  the  picquet,  fortunately, 
however,  raised  the  drawbridge  in  time  and  thus  prevented 
the  enemy  crossing.  Colonel  Gillespie,  hearing  the  con- 
tinued fire,  rode  out  at  the  head  of  a  party  and  charged  the 
enemy  in  the  flank,  which  had  the  desired  effect  of  driving 
them  away. 

It  appeared  afterwards  that  the  enemy  did  not  learn  until 
too  late,  and  after  several  of  this  advance  party  of  theirs  had 
been  killed,  that  Colonel  Gillespie  had  already  arrived  at 
the  Town  House.  They  had  also  fully  expected  they  would 
meet  with  no  opposition,  as  the  Chinese  and  other  inhabitants 
(in  conformity  no  doubt  to  instructions)  pressed  a  potent 
but  deleterious  liquor  on  the  soldiers  when  asked  for  water, 

1  This  is  what  is  now  known  as  the  "  Glodok  "  Plain. 


1J30  JAVA 

which  the  enemy  anticipated  would  have  the  effect  of  making 
them  ah  incapable. 

Colonel  Gillespie's  decisive  orders  counteracted  all  this. 

The  troops  remained  under  arms  the  whole  of  the  first 
night  in  front  of  the  Town  House,  and  next  day  were  joined 
by  the  horse  artillery  and  a  troop  of  dragoons. 

In  the  Castle  and  the  arsenals  at  the  wharf,  near  the 
proper  landing-place,^  a  number  of  guns,  mostly  brass,  and 
a  great  quantity  of  naval  and  military  stores  were  found. 

The  following  night  the  town,  with  every  soul  in  it,  was 
nearly  destroyed  by  a  Malay,  who  was  discovered  with  a 
firebrand  in  the  act  of  firing  a  magazine  containing  gun- 
powder.    The  incendiary  was  at  once  hanged. 

By  the  10th  August,  a  bridge  over  the  Anjol  river  was 
ready  and  the  heavy  guns  were  taken  over. 

Battle  of  Welter vreden. — Colonel  Gillespie  now  prepared  to 
advance  with  one  thousand  European  and  four  hundred  and 
fifty  native  (Sepoy)  troops,  moving  quietly  along  the  main 
road  to  Weltervreden,  passing  Molenvleet  at  just  after  four 
in  the  morning. 

A  little  before  leaving  the  headquarters,  which  were  kept 
by  a  Frenchman  who  had  previously  been  a  servant  of 
General  Daendels,  Colonel  Gillespie  and  his  staff  drank  their 
€offee  ;  but  this  had  been  poisoned  with  some  villainous 
drug,  the  result  of  which  was  that  they  were  all  seized  with 
most  violent  pains  and  vomitings.  The  Frenchman  was  at 
once  taken  and  a  large  cup  of  this  mixture  was  forced  down 
his  throat  by  the  British  soldiers,  producing  a  very  powerful 
effect  on  him.  He  afterwards  escaped  to  America,  and  no 
further  thought  was  given  to  the  man. 

When  the  troops  arrived  near  the  Koningsplein  they  were 
met  by  the  enemy,  who  were  in  five  times  their  number. 
The  action  lasted  two  hours,  the  British  troops  burning  all 
the  villages  and  clearing  the  Koningsplein  at  the  point  of 

1  That  is  the  old  boom,  or  wharf. 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     331 

the  bayonet.  The  European  houses  all  around  were 
described  as  being  very  superb  buildings.  They  were 
deserted,  but  the  troops  left  them  unscathed. 

The  enemy  lost  all  their  guns  and  a  large  number  of 
killed  and  wounded,  besides  prisoners,  both  Europeans  and 
natives,  amongst  whom  were  many  French  officers  of  dis- 
tinction. General  Jumel  and  Brigadier  Lutzow  bolted  when 
it  was  getting  too  hot.  The  British  cavalry,  with  Colonel 
Gillespie  at  the  head,  drove  the  fugitive  army  as  far  as  the 
fort  at  Meester  Cornelis,  only  drawing  rein  when  a  shower 
of  grape  and  round  shot  poured  over  their  heads  from  the 
batteries.  Before  the  guns  could  be  depressed,  however, 
the  cavalry  were  again  out  of  sight  to  the  last  man. 

The  arsenals  at  Weltervreden  were  now  taken  and  found 
to  contain  more  than  three  hundred  pieces  of  ordnance  and 
a  quantity  of  military  stores,  abandoned  in  haste  by  the 
French  when  they  heard  of  the  approach  of  the  English. 

The  advanced  posts  were  next  seized  and  the  French 
driven  out  of  their  redoubts  with  a  loss  of  five  hundred  men 
and  four  horse  artillery  guns. 

Weltervreden  was  now  completely  in  the  power  of  the 
British,  and  the  enemy  were  shut  up  in  their  forts  on  the 
Meester  Cornelis  road. 

Copy  of  Colonel  Gillespie's  official  Report  to  Colonel 
Agnew,  Adjutant-General : — 

"  Weltervreeden,  11th  August,  1811. 
"  Sir, — I  have  the  honour  to  report  to  you  for  the  information 
of  H.E,  the  Commander-in-Chief  that  in  conformity  with  H.E.'s 
permission  I  moved  with  the  advance  from  Batavia  yesterday 
morning  at  4  a.m.  with  the  following  corps  : — 

Horse  Ai'tillery  (four  guns).  Captain  Noble. 

Troops  of  the  22nd  Dragoons,  Captain  Chadwick. 

Right  flank  battalion,  Major  Miller. 

Left  flank  battalion,  Major  Fraser. 

Detachment  of  the  89th  Regiment,  Major  Butler. 

Governor-Generars  bodyguard.  Captain  Gall. 


332  JAVA 

Detachment  of  the  22nd  Dragoons  (dismounted),  Lieutenant 

Dudley. 
Detachment  of  the  Bengal  Light  Infantry,  Captain  Leys. 
Madras  Pioneers,  Major  Smith  Wayte. 

"  After  passing  through  the  cantonment  of  Weltervreden  in  two 
columns,  I  found  the  enemy  strongly  posted  beyond  it  in  a 
difficult  country,  having  a  battery  of  guns  on  the  road  to  Cornehs 
behind  an  abbatis. 

"  The  action  commenced  soon  after  day  dawned.  From  the 
disposition  made  for  the  advance  we  succeeded  in  attacking  the 
enemy  in  front  and  both  flanks,  which  enabled  us  to  force  their 
position,  and  this  appears  from  what  we  afterwards  saw  of  the 
ground,  and  the  very  great  strength  of  the  post  they  occupied, 
to  have  presented  a  greater  effusion  of  blood  on  our  side. 

"  After  an  action  of  full  two  hours  we  pursued  the  enemy 
under  their  works  of  Cornehs,  and  when  on  the  point  of  advancing 
the  cavalry  to  attack,  a  very  heavy  fire  opened  from  the  batteries, 
which  obhged  me  to  recall  them  under  the  shelter  of  the  wood. 

"  His  Excellency  had  the  opportunity  of  witnessing  a  part  of  this 
business,  it  is  unnecessary  therefore  to  enter  into  a  further  detail. 

"  The  enemy's  guns  were  taken  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet, 
after  a  defence  of  the  most  determined  and  obstinate  nature. 
It  is  reported  that  the  greater  part  of  the  European  force  of 
Marshall  Janssens  were  at  that  spot ;  and  from  the  number  of 
European  officers  killed  and  taken  we  have  every  reason  to  suppose 
that  it  was  so. 

"  In  appreciating  the  heroic  conduct  of  the  troops  in  this 
sharp  service  I  can  hardly  find  words  to  express  myself.  The 
fatigue  they  have  suffered  since  they  came  on  shore,  and  the 
almost  impassable  country  through  which  they  had  to  penetrate 
and  push  the  enemy,  will,  I  hope,  be  considered  by  H.E.  the 
Commander-in-Chief  as  it  deserves. 

"  Of  the  conduct  of  the  officers  commanding  different  corps 
and  companies  I  have  to  express  my  admiration,  particularly 
Major  Eraser,  and  the  left  column  under  his  command,  who  bore 
the  severest  part  of  the  action.  In  the  capture  of  the  guns, 
Major  Butler  and  Captain  French,  89th  Foot,  Captain  Forbes, 
78th,  and  the  officers  and  men  comprising  these  corps,  I  have 
particularly  to  mention. 

"  Captain  Lindsay,  commanding  the  light  company  of  the 
69th  Regiment,  Captain  Cameron,  commanding  the  rifle  company 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     333 

of  the  78th  Regiment,  Captains  Oakes,  Nunn,  Rose,  and  Ramsay, 
which  last  was  severely  womided,  and  Lieutenant  Young,  89th 
Regiment,  in  fact  all  the  officers  and  men  of  this  column  fought 
like  British  soldiers  ;  and  their  gallant  commander,  Major  Butler, 
ably  seconded  by  Captain  French,  deserves  my  warmest  acknow- 
ledgments, as  does  Captain  Forbes  of  the  78th  Regiment,  for  the 
same  gallantry. 

"  I  cannot  say  too  much  of  Captain  Noble  and  the  officers  and 
men  under  his  command  who  so  gallantly  fought  the  two  guns 
that  drew  a  most  terrible  fire  from  the  enemy  :  indeed,  the  zeal 
and  abihty  displayed  by  Captain  Noble  throughout  the  service 
demand  my  particular  commendation. 

"  I  must  also  express  my  acknowledgments  to  Major  Miller, 
commanding  the  right  column,  to  Captain  Stanus,  of  the  14th 
Light  Infantry  Company,  Captain  Watts,  of  the  59th  Regiment, 
Lieutenant  Cochlan,  commanding  the  rifle  company  of  the 
14th  Regiment,  and  Lieutenant  McPherson,  commanding  the 
rifle  company  of  the  59th  Regiment,  and  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  different  corps,  as  that  column  contributed  much  to  the 
success  of  the  day  by  turning  the  enemy's  left  flank.  I  have 
also  to  thank  Captain  Leys,  officers,  and  men  of  the  Bengal 
Light  Infantry  Battahon,  and  Captain  Evans  and  Captain 
McPherson,  the  officers  and  grenadiers  under  their  command  of 
the  5th  and  6th  Bengal  volunteer  battahons  attached  to  the 
flank  battahons  ;  Captain  Leys  commanded  the  detachment  of 
Bengal  hght  infantry,  in  the  absence  of  Captain  Fraser,  and  Major 
Dalton,  whom  I  found  it  necessary  to  leave  in  command  of  Batavia. 

"  I  have  also  to  thank  Captain  Gall  of  the  bodyguard. 
Lieutenant  Dudley  of  the  dismounted  dragoons,  22nd  Regiment, 
and  Captains  Smith  Wayte  and  McCraith  of  the  Madras  Pioneers 
for  their  support  during  the  affair. 

"  To  Captain  Taylor  of  H.M.'s  24th  Dragoons,  military  secretary 
to  the  Governor -General,  I  have  to  return  thanks  for  his  indefatig- 
able assistance  during  the  whole  affair,  and  his  very  zealous 
exertions  during  the  vvhole  time  since  we  landed,  as  also  to 
Captains  Dickson  and  Blakiston,  H.E.'s  A.D.C,  from  whom  I 
experienced  every  assistance,  and  whose  conduct  has  been  most 
gallant. 

"  Captain  Mears  of  the  17th  Madras  native  infantry,  who 
volunteered  with  me  on  this  service,  Lieutenant  Hanson  of  the 
Quartermaster -General's    department,    and    Lieutenant   Taylor, 


334 


JAVA 


25th  Dragoons,  who  have  been  attached  to  me  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  service,  I  have  to  thank  for  their  gallantry,  activity 
and  persevering  conduct. 

"  To  Captain  Thorn,  of  H.M.  25th  Dragoons,  my  brigade 
major,  who  I  can  venture  to  say  has  hardly  slept  since  we  landed, 
it  is  difificult  to  express  my  value  of  his  services  ;  they  are  great, 
but  I  am  sorry  to  say  he  has  met  with  two  contusions. 

"  I  should  not  thus  have  entered  into  a  detail  of  the  individual 
services  of  so  many  officers,  had  I  not  ocular  demonstration  of 
their  fully  deserving  notice,  and  should  feel  myself  remiss  were 
I  to  remain  silent. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be 
(Signed)  "  R.  R.  Gillespie,  Colonel. 

"  P.S. — Subjoined  is  a  Hst  of  killed  and  womided." 

Return  of  Killed  and  Wounded  of  the  advance  commanded 
by  Colonel  R.  R.  Gillespie,  in  the  action  of  the  10th  August,  1811, 
near  Weltervreden  : — 


KiUed. 

Wounded. 

Horses. 

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Right 

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nent  22nd  Dragoons  . 
ard 

'  Detachment        14th 
Regt.  . 
Detachment        59th 

Regt.  . 
Grenadier   Company 
,      5th  V.  Bat. 
'  Light  Infantry  Com- 
pany 69th  Regt.   . 
Detachment        78th 

Regt.  .          . 
Grenadier    Company 
6th  V.  Bat. 
nent  H.M.  89th  Regt. 
nent  Bengal  Light  Li- 
7  Bat. 

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7 

BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     335 

Officers'  Names. 

Killed. — Lieutenant  Munro,  H.M.  78th  Regiment. 

Wounded. — Captain  Thorn,  25th  Dragoons,  Brigade  Major  to 
advance  ;  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  DriflEield,  Horse  Artillery, 
died  of  his  wounds  ;  Ensign  Nickison,  14th  Regiment ;  Captaiji 
Cameron,  78th  Regiment  ;  Captain  Ramsay,  89th  Regiment, 
severely  ;  Lieutenant  French,  89th  Regiment ;  Lieutenant  and 
Adjutant  Young,  89th  Regiment ;  Lieutenant  Robinson,  69th 
Regiment, 

On  the  side  of  the  enemy  (killed  or  wounded). 

One  general  officer  ;  one  brigadier  ;  several  field  officers  ; 
several  subalterns. 

Bomhardment  and  Battle  of  Meester  Cornells,  26^/i  August, 
1811. — Preparations  were  now  set  on  foot  for  driving  the 
enemy  out  of  their  stronghold  of  Cornelis,  defended  by  a 
number  of  redoubts  and  batteries,  the  circumference  of  the 
fortified  lines  being  nearly  five  miles,  and  defended  by  two 
hundred  and  eighty  cannon. 

Here  the  whole  French  force  was  concentrated  under  the 
command  of  General  Janssens,  Governor-General,  and 
General  Jumel,  senior  military  officer.  The  force  had  been 
augmented  by  a  lot  of  French  troops  just  arrived  from 
France. 

After  long  consideration,  the  Commander-in-Chief  decided, 
on  account  of  the  season  being  too  far  advanced  to  admit  of 
regular  approaches,  to  carry  the  forts  of  Cornelis  by  assault, 
and  for  two  days  an  incessant  heavy  fire  from  twenty 
eighteen-pounders  and  eight  mortars  and  howitzers  was 
kept  up.  The  execution  was  great,  and  soon  the  nearest 
batteries  were  silenced. 

Meanwhile  there  had  been  two  severe  skirmishes,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Meester  Cornehs,  on  the  22nd  and  24th 
August. 

On  the  first  day,  when  the  English  were  much  exposed  in 


S36  JAVA 

carrying  cartridges  to  the  batteries,  they  lost  in  killed  and 
wounded  :   European  soldiers,  67  ;   native  soldiers,  29. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Clarges,  of  the  69th  Regiment,  had 
advanced  against  the  enemy  from  the  lines  at  Struiswyck,^ 
supported  by  Colonel  Gibb's  brigade,  which  foiled  the  enemy 
in  their  attempt  to  render  the  new  batteries  untenable.  As, 
however,  is  seen  above,  the  tremendous  fire  from  their 
redoubts  had  its  effect.  The  work  in  the  batteries  was 
assisted  by  Captain  Sayer,  of  H.M.S.  Leda,  coming  up  at  a 
critical  moment  with  five  hundred  bluejackets.^ 

On  the  24th  August  the  enemy's  batteries,  after  a  day's 
silence,  in  which  they  had  been  repairing  the  damage  done 
to  the  old  forts  and  rapidly  constructing  new  ones,  opened 
with  renewed  spirit ;  but  although  the  enemy  was  superior 
to  the  English  in  the  number  of  guns  it  was  clearly  proved 
they  were  inferior  in  their  handling.^ 

By  now  Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty  had  gained  a  complete 
knowledge  of  the  position  he  was  going  to  attack  through 
the  help  of  an  intelligent  sergeant,  and  keeping  his  plans 
secret  so  that  the  enemy  could  gain  no  knowledge  of  them, 
he  gave  instructions  for  the  assault  to  take  place  on  the 
26th  August.  This  is  the  memorable  day  on  which  all  the 
native  inhabitants  from  one  end  of  the  island  to  the  other 
learnt  that  the  British  had  stormed  the  formidable  lines  of 

1  Later  called  Nordwyck. 

2  List  showing  officers  killed  and  wounded  on  the  22nd  August,  1811  : — 
Captain  Stopford,   R.N.,  lost  Ms  arm  ;    Lieutenant  Farnaby,  Bengal 

Artillery,  killed  ;  Lieutenant  Munro.  Madras  Horse  Artillery,  lost  his  arm  ; 
Lieutenant  Colebrook,  Royal  Artillery,  wounded  ;  Lieutenant  Shephard, 
Madras  Pioneers,  killed ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Clarges,  69tli  Regiment, 
mortally  wounded  ;  Ensign  McLeod,  Madras  Pioneers,  mortally  wounded  ; 
Lieutenant  Mitchell,  69th  Foot,  wounded  ;  Captain  Shaw,  6th  Battalion 
N.  I.  Bengal,  wounded  (since  dead) ;  Ensign  Pringle,  6th  Battalion  N.  I. 
Bengal,  wounded  (since  dead). 

3  List  of  casualties  which  occurred  on  the  24th  August,  1811  : — 
Lieutenant  Paston,  Royal  Artillery,  killed  ;  Captain    Richards,    Royal 

Artillery,  wounded  ;  Captain  Smith,  Engineers,  wounded  ;  Ensign  Sim, 
Madras  Engineers,  wounded. 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     337 


Meester  Cornelis,  defended  by  the  French  and  Dutch  com- 
bined, in  their  eyes  a  wonderful  feat. 

The  following  distribution  of  the  artillery  and  seamen  was 
ordered  for  the  service  of  the  several  batteries,  under  the 
superintendence  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Caldwell,  Bengal 
Artillery  : — 

Captain    Napier,    Royal    Artillery,   Commanding    the    Batteries. 
No.  I.  No.  III. 


Twelve   Iron  eighteen -pounder 

Battery. 
Captain  Richards. 
Captain  Dundas. 
Lieutenant  Colebrook. 
Lieutenant  Ralfe. 
Bengal  Artillery,  36  men. 
Royal  Artillery,  36  men. 
Seamen,  96  men. 
Madras  Lascars,  18  men. 
Bengal  Lascars,  18  men. 

No.  II. 

Eight    Iron    Eighteen -pounder 

Battery. 
Captain  Smith,  commanding. 
Lieutenant   Munro,   Madras 

Artillery. 
Lieutenant  Farrington. 
Royal  Artillery,  18  men. 
Bengal  Artillery,  30  men. 
Seamen,  64  men. 
Madras  Lascars,  12  men. 
Bengal  Lascars,  12  men. 


Eight -inch  Howitzer  Battery. 
Captain  Faithful,  commanding. 
Lieutenant  Scott. 
Bengal  Artillery,  18  men. 
Seamen,  18  men. 
Bengal  Lascars,  12  men. 

No.  IV. 

Eight -inch  Mortar  Battery. 
Captain  Byers,  commanding. 
Lieutenant  Paston. 
Royal  Artillery,  19  men. 
Seamen,  24  men. 
Madras  Lascars,  16  men. 

No.  V. 

Two  Howitzer  Batteries  in  the 
Rear  of  the  Right-hand  Bat- 
tery to  Fire  across  the  River. 

Lieutenant  Harris,  command- 
ing. 

Bengal  Golandanze,  12  men. 

Seamen,  20  men. 

Total  men  to  work  the  guns, 
479. 

Advance  column  in  the  following  order  : — Sharp  Shooters, 
14th  Regiment,  Lieutenant  Coghlan.  Pioneers  Madras,  Captain 
Smith  wayte.  Grenadier  company,  78th  Regiment,  Captain 
McLeod. 

Eight  Flank  Battalion  (Major  J^Iiller),  consisting  of  Light 
Company,  14th  Regiment,  Captain  Stanus.  Light  Company, 
J. — VOL.  I.  Z 


338  JAVA 

59th  Regiment,  Captain  Bowen.  Grenadier  Company,  5th 
Volunteer  Battahon,  Captain  Evans.  Rifle  Company,  59th  Regi- 
ment, Lieutenant  McPherson. 

Left  Flank  Battalion  (Captain  Forbes,  78th  Regiment),  con- 
sisting of  Light  Company,  69th  Regiment,  Captain  Lindsay. 
Light  Company,  78th  Regiment.  Grenadier  Company,  6th 
Volunteer  Battalion,  Captain  McPherson.  Rifle  Company,  78th 
Regiment,  Captain  Cameron.  Detachment,  89th  Regiment,  five 
companies,  Major  Butler.  Royal  Marines,  Captain  Bunce. 
Dismounted  Dragoons,  22nd  Regiment,  Lieutenant  Dudley. 
Governor -General's  bodyguard  dismounted,  Captain  Gall. 
Detachment  of  Volunteers  Light  infantry  Battahon,  Captain 
Frazer.  Detachment  of  4th  Volunteer  Battahon,  Major 
Grant. 

Colonel  Gibhs'  Column,  consisting  of  Grenadier  Company, 
14th  Regiment,  Captain  Kennedy.  Grenadier  Company,  59th 
Regiment,  Captain  Olphert.  Grenadier  Company,  69th  Regiment, 
Captain  Ross.  His  Majesty's  1st  Battahon  59th  Regiment, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  McLeod.  Detachment  of  Volunteers  Light 
Infantry  Battahon,  Major  Dalton.  Detachment  4th  Volunteer 
Battalion. 

Fight  at  Pegansaan. — The  troops,  under  Colonel  Gillespie, 
moved  off  soon  after  midnight  on  the  26th,  and  after  groping 
in  the  dark  across  cocoanut  plantations,  sometimes  in  single 
file  led  by  Captain  Dickson,  A.D.C.,  who  had  gone  over  part 
of  the  ground  in  daylight,  the  column  came  out  of  a  wood 
quite  close  to  the  enemy's  first  works  near  the  Cornelis 
bridge  by  Pegansaan.  Colonel  Gillespie  now  had  to  wait  in 
awful  suspense,  within  sight  of  the  enemy,  for  the  rear, 
under  Colonel  Gibbs,  to  come  up. 

The  day  was  fast  approaching,  and  a  retrograde  move- 
ment was  impossible ;  the  honour  and  credit  of  a  whole 
army  was  at  stake ;  thousands  of  lives  depended  on  the 
success  or  failure  of  this  battle.  Gillespie  therefore  decided 
to  attack,  trusting  that  Gibbs,  whose  gallantry  and  ardour 
he  knew  he  could  rely  on,  would  arrive  in  time. 

The  English  therefore  pressed  forward  in  order  to  secure 


i- .' 


fe 


\-; 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     339 

the  redoubt  directly  facing  the  bridge,  and  defended  by 
four  horse  artillery  gims  and  enfiladed  by  others.  After  a 
short  struggle  they  captured  it.  Gillespie  now  turned  to 
the  left  and  attacked  a  second  redoubt ;  here  the  English 
were  met  with  an  overwhelming  fire,  both  musketry 
and  grape.  It  was  taken,  however,  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet. 

These  two  captured  redoubts  mounted  each  twenty 
eighteen-pounders  and  several  twenty-four-pounders  and 
thirty-two  pounders,  while  the  ditches  swarmed  with 
musketmen. 

Gibbs  now  came  on  the  field  at  the  head  of  the  14th,  59th, 
and  69th  Eegiments,  and  was  directed  by  Gillespie  to  take 
another  redoubt,  w^hich  he  did  under  the  same  circumstances 
and  in  the  same  manner  as  the  former  had  been  taken.  A 
dreadful  explosion  took  place  in  this  redoubt  when  the 
powder  magazine  and  a  number  of  shells  and  rockets  blew 
up,  killing  two  French  captains,  Muller  and  Osman,  who 
are  said  to  have  fired  it.  A  heavy  loss  of  hfe  followed,  one 
thousand  at  least  being  buried  in  the  works,  mangled  bodies 
and  scattered  limbs  strewing  the  ground  in  a  horrible 
manner. 

The  French  brigadier  Jauffret  was  taken  prisoner  here 
by  Gillespie  in  person. 

All  the  batteries  were  stormed  and  taken  in  succession, 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Alexander  McLeod  now  coming  up 
with  his  regiment,  an  attack  was  directed  on  the  enemy's 
park  of  artillery  and  their  reserve. 

The  enemy's  cavalry  then  prepared  to  charge,  and  the 
59th  Regiment  opened  fii'e  on  them. 

The  attack  was  now  carried  forward  briskly  on  all  sides, 
under  showers  of  grape  and  a  sharp  musketry  fire.  Major 
Yule  was  now  with  his  flying  column  at  Kampong  Melayo, 
while  McLeod,  of  the  69th  Regiment,  made  an  assault  on 
redoubt  No.  1. 

z  2 


340  JAVA 

The  remainder  of  the  army,  with  the  Commander-in-Chief 
at  its  head  and  Major  Wetherall  and  Colonel  Wood  command- 
ing the  reserves  and  Colonel  x\dams  with  the  left  brigade  of 
the  hne,  now  threatened  the  enemy's  front,  where  the 
highest  artillery  was  drawn  up.  Captain  Sayer,  with  his 
body  of  bluejackets  armed  with  pikes,  joined  the  main 
body  ;  and  they  were  soon  all  mounted  at  the  expense  of 
French  officers,  and  obtained  the  title  of  "  H.M.  Marine 
Light  Dragoons." 

The  enemy  deceived,  and  thinking  a  frontal  attack  was 
intended,  moved  their  artillery  to  this  point.  On  receipt 
of  this  news  Gillespie  ordered  a  general  advance  and  final 
assault. 

Colonel  Gillespie  was  now  overcome  with  fatigue,  suffering 
as  he  was  from  a  low  fever,  which  was  increased  by  a 
contusion  on  the  head,  and  he  fainted,  after  his  last  instruc- 
tion, in  the  arms  of  Captains  Dickson  and  Thorn. 

Eecovering,  however,  he  heard  the  main  attack  was 
successml,  and  the  enemy,  discovering  parties  rushing  in 
from  all  sides,  began  to  flee.  The  cavalry  was  now  ordered 
up,  and  Gillespie,  placing  himself  at  the  head,  led  the 
pursuit. 

Lord  Minto  and  Baffles  now  came  on  to  the  field  to  inquire 
after  the  wounded  and  to  see  the  hospital.  The  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty,  hearing  this,  rode 
up  to  meet  them,  reporting  his  triumph  with  a  radiant 
countenance. 

The  enemy  was  followed  up  for  ten  miles,  and  although 
they  tried  now  and  again  to  rally,  a  detachment  of  horse 
artillery  which  followed  the  dragoons  dislodged  them  and 
the  cavalry  then  cut  them  down. 

At  Kampong  Macassar  a  stand  was  made  behind  broken- 
down  carts  and  thick  hedges,  supported  by  four  horse 
artillery  guns,  which  were  all  they  had  saved  from  the  wreck 
of  their  army  ;    but  the  cavalry  cut  through  everything, 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     341 

fearing  neither  grape  nor  musketry.  The  enemy  now 
dispersed. 

Arms,  caps,  accoutrements,  and  pouches  were  flung  away 
and  marked  their  course.  Six  thousand  prisoners  were 
taken,  and  only  a  handful  of  men  reached  the  newly-erected 
batteries  at  Buitenzorg,  so  that  there  was  no  one  to  man 
them. 

Two  French  generals  were  taken  ;  General  Jurnelle 
remained  in  a  bog  up  to  his  chin  for  hours  and  escaped  in 
the  dark.  Two  of  General  Janssens's  A.D.C.'s,  the  chief  of 
engineers,  the  French  commissary-general,  all  the  heads  of 
departments,  five  colonels,  four  majors,  twenty-one  lieu- 
tenant-colonels, seventy  captains,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  lieutenants,  seven  Amboynese  lieutenants,  three  native 
lieutenants,  five  sub-adjutants,  and  one  cadet  were  taken 
prisoners. 

Two  hundred  and  eight  cannon  and  several  stands  of 
colours  were  also  captured. 

The  whole  of  the  French  and  Dutch  army  was  either 
taken  or  destroyed,  amounting  to  more  than  thirteen 
thousand  regular  and  well-disciplined  troops. 

Only  a  very  small  party  on  horse  under  Major  Le  Blanc 
managed  to  get  off  with  General  Janssens. 

There  scarcely  ever  was  such  a  thorough  rout. 

The  loss  on  the  English  side  was  also  severe  ;  there  were 
more  than  five  hundred  men  killed  and  wounded,  among 
whom  were  forty-eight  officers. 

The  humanity  of  the  English  to  their  wounded  prisoners 
on  that  day  was  admirable.  No  distinction  of  colour  was 
made.  English,  Dutch,  or  Malay  were  carried  to  hospital. 
The  Malays  and  other  natives  were  all  in  amazement,  having 
been  made  to  believe  that  the  English  were  savages,  who 
treated  their  prisoners  with  unheard-of  barbarities. 

When  the  disaster  to  the  French  army  was  learnt  two 
French  frigates  which  were  blockaded  in  Sourabaya  Harbour 


342  JAVA 

(La  Nymphe  and  La  Medusa),  under  the  command  of  Com- 
modore Reval)  succeeded  in  escaping  the  British  cruisers. 
In  these  ships  several  officers,  aides-de-camp  to  General 
Janssens,  with  Dibbatz,  chef  de  battalion,  Major  Godders, 
Larienty,  auditor  to  the  Council  of  State,  and  Monsieur 
Panat  went  as  passengers,  carrying  home  to  France  the 
account  of  the  defeat. 

When  Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty  discovered  the  flight  of 
Janssens  to  the  east  he  immediately  dispatched  a  small 
force  to  Cheribon,  in  order  to  cut  off  the  communications. 
A  squadron  of  frigates  commanded  by  Captain  Beaver,  of 
H.M.S.  Nisus,  and  a  battalion  of  Sepoys  under  Colonel 
Wood  were  employed  on  this  service.  The  frigates  left 
Batavia  on  the  31st  August,  and  when  they  appeared  off 
Cheribon  the  fort  surrendered.  General  Janssens  had 
passed,  however,  two  days  previously,  but  General  Jumel 
arrived  shortly  after,  and,  not  knowing  Cheribon  was  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  Enghsh,  walked  into  their  hands.  It 
appears  that  when  he  arrived  at  Buitenzorg  he  assumed 
command  of  the  Malays,  but  they  mutinied  and  murdered 
an  officer,  which  caused  him  to  leave  them  in  haste  and 
follow  Janssens. 

The  fort  of  Tegal  surrendered  now  to  Captain  Hillyar,  of 
H.M.S.  Phoehe,  H.M.S.  Sir  Francis  Drake,  Captain  Harris, 
and  H.M.S.  Phaeton,  Captain  Fleetwood.  Pellew,  with 
marines  and  a  part  of  the  14th  Regiment,  captured  the  fort 
of  Sumenap,  Madura.  An  attempt  was  made  by  the  natives, 
under  Dutchmen,  to  recapture  the  place,  but  it  was  un- 
successful. 

Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty  with  a  force  left  Batavia  on  the 
5th  September  to  capture  Janssens,  who  he  supposed  had 
fled  to  Sourabaya  ;  calling  at  Cheribon  on  the  way  he  inter- 
cepted letters  to  Janssens  and  found  he  was  at  Samarang. 
The  fleet  under  Commodore  Broughton  was  now  ordered  to 
that  place. 


a  a.      *i; 


>^^^^^^ 

C^-^;.' 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     343 

On  his  arrival  at  Samarang,  Sir  Samuel  sent  Janssens  the 
following  dispatch  : — 

**  General  Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty,  and  Rear -Admiral  Stopford  to 
General  Janssens. 
"  Samarang  Roads,  the  10th  September,  1811. 

"  Sir, — After  the  proposals  made  to  your  Excellency  at  Buiten- 
zorg,^  we  might  be  excused  again  offering  you  favourable  terms 
of  surrender.  But  your  Excellency  was  not  then  perhaps  aware 
that  the  whole  of  your  efficient  force  was  killed,  taken,  or  dispersed 
in  the  action  of  the  26th. 

"  You  had  not  perhaps  reflected  on  the  miseries  to  which  the 
European  inhabitants  of  the  colony  must  be  exposed  from  a 
protracted  warfare. 

"  You  must  be  now  sensible  that  the  colony  is  lost  to  France, 
and  though  by  intriguing  with  native  Powers  its  possession  may 
be  rendered  for  some  time  inquiet,  the  unfortimate  colonists 
alone  will  be  the  sufferers. 

"  Enough,  Sir,  has  been  sacrificed  to  reputation  ;  think  now 
of  the  interests  of  those  placed  under  your  protection. 

"  By  submitting  to  a  destiny  that  cannot  be  avoided,  you 
immediately  arrest  the  hand  of  the  armed  ruffian  that  now  riots 
in  the  blood  of  the  colonists. 

"  The  British  troops  will  then  be  employed  in  the  grateful 
office  of  giving  them  protection.  But  if.  Sir,  you  continue  deaf 
to  the  cries  of  a  distressed  people,  if  blood  must  necessarily  be 
shed,  if  the  natives  must  be  let  loose  to  plunder  and  massacre 
the  European  inhabitants  of  Java,  we  shall  hold  you,  Sir,  and 
those  who  continue  to  support  you,  as  answerable  for  the  conse- 
quences. 

"  It  is  our  earnest  intention  to  prevent  these  horrors. 

"  Your  perseverance  in  a  hopeless  cause  will  counteract  our 
efforts. 

"  We  have  directed  Captain  Agnew,  of  the  Army,  and  the 
Hon.  Captain  Elhott,  of  the  Navy,  to  wait  on  you  with  this 
letter,  and  we  beg  to  refer  you  to  them  for  particulars. 

"  We  have  the  honour  to  be  etc.,  etc. 

"  S.  AucHivnjTY. 
"  P.  Stopford." 

•  The  Commander-in-Chief  asked  his  surrender,  but  he  declined. 


344  JAVA 

Answer. 
(Translation). 

"  Samarang,  the  10th  September,  1811. 
"  The  Governor -General  to  his  Excellency  Lieutenant -General 
Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army, 
and   Rear-Admiral   Stopford,    Commander-in-Chief   of   His 
Britannic  Majesty's  Naval  Forces. 

"  Generals, — Colonel  Agnew  and  the  Honourable  Captain 
ElUott  have  delivered  to  me  the  letter  your  Excellencies  did  me 
the  honour  to  address  to  me. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  losses  of  the  26th  of  last  month,  there 
yet  remain  resources  in  the  colony.  The  faithful  vassals  of  the 
Government  have  the  same  cause  to  defend  with  ourselves,  and 
I  owe  to  them  the  same  protection  as  to  the  Europeans,  the 
direct  subjects  of  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  and  King.  I  am  not 
insensible  to  the  evils  which  the  colony  suffers,  but  it  is  not  I 
that  am  the  cause  of  their  sufferings. 

"  I  have  the  highest  opinion  of  the  personal  qualities  of  your 
Excellencies,  not  to  be  persuaded  that  in  the  same  manner  that 
you  combat  those  who  carry  arms  you  will  protect  the  peace- 
able colonists  and  natives  who  inhabit  the  territory  occupied 
by  the  troops  of  His  Britannic  Majesty  and  prevent  those 
horrors,  which  are  not  the  necessary  consequences  of  a  state 
of  war. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be  with  perfect  consideration, 

"  Janssens." 

On  the  night  of  the  10th  September,  in  view  of  the  un- 
satisfactory nature  of  Janssens's  reply,  Captain  Maxwell, 
of  H.M.S.  Procris,  took  charge  of  the  armed  boats  ot  the 
squadron,  which  proceeded  to  the  shore  with  a  view  to 
cutting  off  six  vessels  lying  close  in  and  flying  the  French 
flag.  These  were  taken  possession  of,  but  the  crews  had 
abandoned  them  already,  so  the  guns  were  taken  out  to 
render  them  useless.  Another  party  of  boats  had  sailed  up 
the  river. 

On  the  12th  September  preparations  were  made  to  land, 
owning  to   the   formidable   works   which   commanded   the 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     345 

landing  having,  it  was  ascertained,  been  dismantled.  When 
everything  was  ready  it  was  found  the  town  had  been 
evacuated,  on  which  Colonel  Gibbs  took  quiet  possession  of 
it  that  same  evening. 

General  Janssens  had  moved  outside  Samarang  beyond 
the  Tjandi  Hill,  where  a  large  land  house  stood,  to 
the  top  of  the  Djatingaleh  (or  Big  Gombel)  Hill.  His 
force  of  one  battalion  from  Som-abaya  had  been  joined 
by  fifteen  hundred  natives  under  one  of  the  Surakerta 
princes. 

The  British  force,  of  twelve  hundred  firelocks  and  six 
cannon,  marched  to  attack  Janssens  at  2  a.m.  on  the  16th 
September.  The  enemy  was  posted  on  lofty  and  rugged 
hills  on  the  high  road  to  Solo,  with  thirty  pieces  of  cannon 
on  platforms  covering  their  front  on  a  spit  on  the  right  of 
the  road,  which  had  a  valley  in  front  twelve  hundred  yards 
at  least  in  breadth.^ 

The  Enghsh  general  sent  a  detachment  with  two  guns  to 
occupy  a  hill  on  the  left  of  the  road  which  somewhat  over- 
looked the  enemy,  and  the  other  four  guns  were  brought  to 
throw  shot  at  a  great  elevation  across  the  valley  into  their 
position.  The  infantry  now  prepared  to  cross  the  valley, 
and,  as  soon  as  they  had  recovered  their  breath,  rushed 
across  on  the  enemy,  who  fled,  leaving  their  guns  behind 
them. 

Colonel  Gibbs  now  followed  on  the  main  road  as  fast  as 
he  could,  capturing  some  European  officers  and  men.  The 
rest  of  the  Dutch  force  (there  were  scarcely  any  French  in 
it),  however,  owing  to  its  being  mounted,  escaped. 

An  advance  was  now  made  on  Oenarang,  after  a  good 
rest  at  Serondol. 


1  Some  cannon  are  still  lying  there  ;  whether  they  are  the  same  as  used 
on  this  occasion,  however,  is  uncertain,  and  it  appears  more  hkely  that  they 
were  cannon  used  in  the  Java  war  of  1825,  although  the  natives  say 
otherwise. 


346  JAVA 

Here  there  was  a  square  fort,  constructed  in  1786, 
on  the  main  road  to  Solo,  about  twelve  miles  from  Sama- 
rang.  It  was  one  of  those  chain  of  forts  the  Dutch  built 
to  keep  open  the  way  to  the  Javan  sultans  at  Solo  and 
Djockjakarta. 

A  force  had  collected  here,  and  on  the  British  army  of 
English  and  Sepoj^s  advancing  the  Dutch  fired  from  the 
fort  the  moment  they  were  in  sight.  Seeing,  however,  that 
the  fort  was  being  gradually  surrounded,  they  evacuated  it 
and  fled  to  the  fort  at  Salatiga.  This  was  General  Janssens's 
final  effort,  for,  finding  himself  on  his  arrival  at  Salatiga 
practically  deserted,  he  sent  the  same  night  a  request  to  the 
British  commander  for  a  cessation  of  arms  and  an  offer  to 
treat  for  capitulation/  The  proposal  was  the  more  accept- 
able as  the  British  commander  had  no  intention  of  proceed- 
ing further  for  the  time. 

On  the  19th  September  Gressie  was  occupied,  and  on  the 
22nd  Sourabaya  surrendered  without  opposition  ;  and  this 
ended  the  campaign. 

A  medal  was  struck,  with  a  bar  for  each  battle,  in  remem- 
brance of  this  short  but  "  brilliant  passage  of  arms  "  for  the 
British  army. 

Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty  now  returned  to  India,  appointing 
Colonel  Gillespie  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  British  army 
of  occupation  in  Java  and  its  dependencies. 

1  This  was  the  second  time  Janssens  had  lost  a  colony  to  the  English,  the 
first  being  the  loss  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  Sir  David  Baird. 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     347 

NOTES   TO   CHAPTER  VIII 

Note  I. 

Seamen  and  Marines  Killed  and  Wounded  from  the  Uh  August 
to  the  26th  August,  on  shore. 


Killed. 

Wounded. 

Seamen  , 

.      11 

Officers 

.       6 

Marines 

4 

Seamen 

.     29 

— 

Marines 

.     20 

%fa1    • 

15 

55 

jTiOiL  .^— 

KiUed 

.      15 

Wounded     . 

.     55 

Missing 

.       3 

Grand  Total 

.     73 

Names  of  Officers  wounded. 

Captain  Stopford,  severely.  Lieutenant  Noble,  H.M.S.  Scipion, 
slightly.  John  D.  Worthy  (master's  mate),  slightly.  Robert 
Dunlop  (master's  mate),  slightly.  Lieutenant  Haswell,  marines 
(already  mentioned).  Lieutenant  ElUott,  Marines  (already 
mentioned). 

• 
Note  II. 

General  Orders  by  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

"  Headquarters,  Weltervreeden,  19th  August,  1811. 

Parole.  Madras. 

*'  The  Commander-in-Chief  having  received  the  reports  of  the 
officers  commanding  the  several  divisions  employed  in  the  late 
attack  of  the  enemy's  assembled  forces,  performs  a  pleasing  part 
of  his  duty  in  expressing  to  the  gallant  army  he  has  the  honor 
•  to  command,  and  to  the  officers  and  seamen  of  the  Royal  Navy  and 
battalion  of  Royal  Marines,  who  by  the  kindness  of  the  Hon.  Rear- 
Admiral  Stopford  were  placed  under  his  orders,  his  highest 
approbation  and  admiration  of  the  ardent  zeal  and  irresistible 
bravery  which  marked  their  conduct  during  the  whole  of  the 
recent  operations,  and  particularly  in  the  decisive  assault  by  which 
on  the  morning  of  the  26th  inst.  the  strongly  fortified  position 


348  JAVA 

of  the  enemy  at  Cornelis  was  carried,  and  their  army  completely 
dispersed,  their  Commander-in-Chief  with  a  few  cavalry  saving 
himself  by  precipitate  flight,  while  a  large  proportion  of  his 
generals,  staff  officers,  and  troops  were  made  prisoners  in  the 
action  and  pursuit. 

"  Where  ardent  gallantry  was  universally  displayed,  both  by 
the  European  and  native  troops,  the  Commander-in-Chief  can 
only  particularise  those  whose  rank  and  situations  of  particular 
trust,  in  the  course  of  the  attack,  rendered  their  conduct  pre- 
eminent. 

"  To  Colonel  Gillespie,  who  commanded  the  principal  attack, 
and  to  Colonel  Gibbs,  who  headed  the  second  column  under 
that  officer's  orders,  it  is  impossible  to  say  too  much,  but  the 
Commander-in-Chief  will  confine  himself  to  the  public  declara- 
tion that  those  officers  fully  performed  every  service  which 
he  had  expected  to  derive  from  their  well-known  gallantry  and 
conduct,  displayed  throughout  the  attack  that  heroic  spirit  of 
enterprise  which  proved  them  worthy  to  command  the  gallant 
troops  they  led. 

"  To  Major-General  Wetherall  the  Commander-in-Chief  offers 
his  cordial  thanks  for  the  great  assistance  he  has  constantly 
derived  from  his  zealous  exertions,  as  well  as  on  the  last  attack 
on  the  enemy's  position  at  Cornelis  as  on  the  various  operations  by 
which  it  was  preceded. 

"  The  full  success  of  the  several  attacks  led  by  Colonel  Wood, 
of  the  Bengal  Native  Infantry,  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  McLeod,  of 
H.M.  69th  Regiment,  who  fell  in  conducting  his  column  with 
that  distinguished  gallantry  which  had  ever  marked  his  long 
career  of  active  mihtary  service,  and  by  Major  Yule,  of  the 
20th  Regiment  Bengal  Native  Infantry,  attacks  expected  only  to 
distract  and  divide  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  is  the  best  proof 
of  the  ability  and  energy  with  which  those  officers  conducted  the 
divisions  entrusted  to  their  direction. 

"  The  prominent  and  meritorious  exertions  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Adams,  H.M.  78th  Regiment,  commanding  the  Left 
Brigade  of  the  Line,  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Alexander  McLeod, 
of  H.M.  59th  Regiment,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Watson,  of  the 
14th  Regiment,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Campbell,  of  the  78th  Regi- 
ment, Major  Miller,  of  the  14th  commanding  the  Right  Flank 
Battahon,  Major  Butler,  of  His  Majesty's  89th  ;  Major  Grant,  of 
the  4th  Bengal  Volunteer  Battalion,  Major  Dalton,  Bengal  Light 


THK    KAXARIE    LANK    AT    T.IILAT.IAP 


THE    UKSIDEN'T's    HOUSE,    PASUEROEAN. 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  TO  JAVA,  1811     349 

Infantry  Volunteer  Battalion,  Captain  Forbes,  of  His  Majesty's 
78th  Regiment,  commanding  the  Left  Flank  Battalion,  Captain 
Fraser,  commanding  detachment  Light  Infantry  Battalion, 
Lieutenant  Dudley,  commanding  dismounted  party  22nd 
Dragoons,  and  Captain  Gall,  the  Governor-General's  bodyguard, 
have  been  reported  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  in  terms  of  strong 
applause,  and  the  conduct  of  Major  Travers,  of  His  Majesty's 
22nd  Dragoons,  and  Captain  Noble,  of  the  Horse  Artillery,  with 
the  detachments  under  their  command,  in  their  eager  and 
animated  pursuit  and  dispersion  of  the  enemy  when  the  roads 
were  cleared  for  their  advance  merits  every  commendation. 

"  The  Commander-in-Chief  thinks  it  proper  to  express  his 
satisfaction  at  the  support  he  has  received  from  all  the  officers  of 
the  Staff,  but  he  deems  it  particularly  incumbent  on  him  to  mark 
his  full  approbation  of  the  active  energy  and  gallantry  of  Captain 
Dickson  and  Lieutenant  Blackiston,  his  aides-de-camp,  whom 
he  permitted  to  act  with  Colonel  Gillespie  on  the  morning  of  the 
attack. 

"  Colonel  Gillespie  has  also  reported  the  conduct  of  Captain 
Taylor,  Captain  Thorn,  and  the  officers  particularly  attached  to 
his  staff  as  highly  meritorious. 

"  The  Commander-in-Chief  requests  Captain  Sayer,  the  senior 
officer  of  the  detachment,  and  all  the  officers  and  seamen  of  the 
Royal  Navy  under  his  command,  to  accept  his  thanks  for  the 
able  and  active  assistance  rendered  by  the  naval  detachment 
from  the  moment  of  their  disembarkation  to  join  the  army  and 
assist  in  the  batteries.  The  eager  exertions  of  the  corps  of  seamen, 
when  permitted  at  their  request  to  leave  the  batteries  and  join 
in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  gave  the  most  satisfactory  proof  that 
British  sailors,  though  not  acting  on  the  element  pecuharly  their 
own,  are  in  every  situation  ready,  able,  and  happy  to  oppose  with 
vigour  and  effect  the  enemies  of  their  King  and  country. 

"  The  Commander-in-Chief  laments  in  common  with  the  whole 
army  the  many  brave  men  who  fell  in  the  late  arduous  attack, 
but  it  is  ever  a  pleasing  consolation  to  the  sorrowing  friends  and 
relatives  of  a  gallant  officer,  when  he  meets  that  fate  which 
sooner  or  later  is  common  to  all  men,  in  the  execution  of  his 
noblest  duties — dies  with  honour,  as  these  brave  men  whom 
he  now  laments  have  done,  gloriously  supporting  the  cause  of 
their  beloved  Sovereign  and  their  country. 

"  P.  Agnew,  Adjutant-General." 


CHAPTER   IX 

The  British  Occupation  of  Java  and  its  Dependencies, 

1811  TO  1816 

Stamford  Raffles  appointed  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Java. — 
Lord  Minto,  now  that  the  campaign  was  over,  appointed 
Thomas  Stamford  Raffles  as  Lieutenant-Governor,  a  post, 
indeed,  for  which  he  was  so  fully  qualified. 

Lord  Minto's  dispatch  to  the  Court  of  Directors  upon  the 
capture  of  Java  was  quietly  recorded — in  fact  so  quietly 
that  little  actual  notice  of  it  appears  to  have  been  taken  by 
them.     It  read  as  follows  : — 

"  An  Empire  which  for  two  centuries  has  contributed  greatly 
to  the  power,  prosperity,  and  grandeur  of  one  of  the  principal 
and  most  respected  States  in  Europe  has  been  thus  wrested  from 
the  short  usurpation  of  the  French  Government,  added  to  the 
dominion  of  the  British  Crown,  and  converted  from  a  seat  of 
hostile  machination  and  commercial  competition  into  an  augmen- 
tation of  British  power  and  prosperity." 

Raffles  at  once  saw  that  his  charge  was  of  the  most 
extensive,  arduous,  and  responsible  nature,  comprising 
thirty  residencies,  with  divisions  under  powerful  and 
autocratic  chiefs  desirous  of  throwing  off  the  European 
yoke,  and  with  a  population  of  nearly  six  millions.  The 
rule  of  the  Dutch  up  to  now,  on  no  less  authority  than  Lord 
Minto's,  had  not  been  a  good  one,  and  all  the  grievous  and 
mischievous  maxims  of  a  narrow  and  somewhat  harsh 
policy  had  until  the  arrival  of  the  English  more  or  less 
swayed  every  department  of  affairs.  This  system  Raffles 
declared  to  be  a  vicious  one  and  against  the  interests  of 
Government  and  people,  and  one  that  must  be  ended. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     351 

The  collection  of  the  revenues  was  promptly  taken  in 
hand  by  him  as  a  matter  needing  immediate  reorganisation. 

The  old  method  of  "  farming  "  to  Chinese  was  not  only 
undesirable  but  the  cause  of  a  heavy  loss  to  the  exchequer. 
The  reform  meant  much  preparation,  both  in  making 
regulations  and  providing  instruments  for  the  proper 
collection. 

Raffles  then  took  up  the  question  of  paying  duties  on 
exports  and  imports,  appointing  special  customs  authorities, 
and  an  organised  staff  and  service  under  the  direct  control 
of  higher  authorities.  Regular  custom-houses  were  soon 
established  at  Batavia,  Samarang,  and  Sourabaya. 

Gaming  and  cock-fighting,  which  had  also  been  "  farmed  " 
out,  were  aboHshed  as  injurious  to  the  interests  of  the 
colony. 

Plans  were  formed  for  the  suppression  of  piracy,  which 
was  a  regular  scourge  in  the  Archipelago. 

Raffles  was  also  determined  to  put  an  end  to  the  slavery 
which  had  existed  for  nearly  three  centuries,  not  because  it 
was  particularly  grievous  to  the  slaves,  whose  servitude 
was  purely  domestic  or  menial,  but  because  it  was  un- 
dignified for  a  great  Power  to  allow  such  an  institution 
within  her  colonies,  the  principle  involved  being  a  monstrous 
one.  As  a  means  towards  attaining  this  object  Government 
ceased  entirely  to  purchase  slaves,  and  the  importation  by 
private  individuals  or  concerns  was  thereby  immediately 
checked. 

Everything  had  Raffles'  attention ;  the  large  public 
offices  in  the  Waterloo  Plain,  Batavia,  are  really  due  to 
him^ ;  likewise  the  Harmonic  Club,  the  improvements  to 
the  large  Governor-General's  palace  at  Buitenzorg,  and  the 
Resident's  palace  at  Samarang.  He  took  each  department 
in  hand  by  tm'n  and  reorganised  it  in  a  thorough  and  highly 
efficient  manner  ;  for,  as  he  and  Lord  Minto  were  in  agree- 
^  They  were  conceived,  however,  by  Marshal  Daendels. 


852  JAVA 

ment,  although  it  was  not  yet  certain  whether  the  EngUsh 
would  remain  in  Java,  still  while  they  were  there  they 
meant  to  do  as  much  good  as  they  could. 

There  is  also  no  doubt  that  it  was  in  great  measure  owing 
to  the  five  years  the  English  spent  in  the  island  that  the 
present  great  system  which  rules  the  colony  could  be 
brought  into  being.  Up  to  the  time  Raffles  arrived  the 
Government  had  not,  as  we  know,  been  all  that  it  should, 
and  many  scandalous  grievances  had  crept  into  officialdom. 
Raffles  cleansed  all  this  with  a  strong  hand,  enabling  the 
Dutch  on  their  return  into  possession  to  open  a  fresh  book 
and  work  on  new  principles,  as  in  fact  they  did. 

These  faults  of  theirs  were  not  exactly  the  faults  of  a 
nation,  but  the  faults  of  the  times,  their  regeneration  not 
having  kept  pace  with  that  of  the  English,  whose  broader 
and  more  humane  principles  of  government  had  developed 
more  quickly.^ 

During  Raffles'  first  six  weeks  as  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
Java  Lord  Minto  remained  with  him,  to  give  his  assistance 
to  his  young  protege.  On  every  point  these  two  master- 
minds agreed  and  resolved  that  Java  must  be  made  an 
English  colony  as  quickly  as  possible,  with  EngUsh  colonists, 
Enghsh  capital,  and  therefore  an  EngUsh  interest.  The 
country  was  flourishing,  but  the  field  for  improvement  and 
employment  was  inexhaustible.  It  was  in  point  of  fact  not 
only  the  other  India,  but  with  its  dependencies  the  richest 
empire  in  the  world,  Borneo  and  Sumatra  from  the  sUght 
scratches  made  on  their  surface  proving  that  wealth  inex- 
haustible, to  which  that  of  Peru,  Chile,  and  Mexico  would  be 
as  nothing,  was  procurable  for  the  asking.  The  civil  service 
for  the  administration  of  the  new  possessions  was  also  more 
or  less  reorganised,  Britishers  receiving  nearly  aU  the 
principal  posts,  but  the  services  of  many  Dutchmen,  among 

»  Owing  to  the  great  quantity  of  prize  property,  chiefly  cofiee,  seized, 
Eafflea  appointed  a  prize  court  with  Colonel  Cohn  Mackenzie  as  President. 


FORT    JAPAKA,     iHll.       (HKITISH    FLAG    IS    FLYING. 


FOKT    SALATIGA,    iHll. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     353 

whom  were  such  men  as  Muntinghe,  Crausen,  N.  Engelhard, 
James  Du  Puy,  and  several  others,  were  retained  by  Raffles, 
and  they  were  given  high  posts.  The  staff  when  completed 
was  undoubtedly  a  good  and  strong  one,  which  well  assisted 
Raffles  in  his  great  plans. 

It  must  not,  however,  be  forgotten  that  the  tools,  in  the 
shape  of  this  valuable  Dutch  staff,  were  in  the  island  on  the 
arrival  of  the  Enghsh,  and,  although  the  end  might  have 
eventually  been  the  same,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  with- 
out these  capable  Dutch  officials  the  difficulties  with  which 
Raffles  was  first  faced  would  have  been  greatly  magnified, 
and  in  some  cases  have  proved  insurmountable. 

We  learn  that  Raffles  at  this  time  was  buoyant  in  spirits 
and  firm  in  courage,  and  so  judiciously  had  all  these  changes 
been  introduced  that  not  a  single  individual,  high  or  low, 
felt  aggrieved  by  them  ;  and  the  native  population,  chiefs, 
subordinates,  and  people,  with  one  accord  hailed  the  new 
order  of  things  as  a  boon  conferred  upon  them  by  British 
philanthropy,  and  entered  on  the  enjoyment  of  its  advan- 
tages with  confidence  and  improving  industry. 

Raffles  examined  closely  into  the  Department  for  the 
Interior  and  found  mistakes  everywhere.  He,  however,  set 
to  work  himself  from  daylight  until  well  into  the  night,  and 
drew  up  every  detail  and  instruction,  with  all  the  courage 
of  a  pure,  honest,  and  ardent  mind,  and  with  that  unwearied 
assiduity  which  he  displayed  until  the  end  of  his  administra- 
tion when  he  retired  from  Java,  more  or  less  broken  in  health 
and  spirits. 

His  zeal  and  activity,  his  exertion  and  the  fatigue  he 
underwent,  were  astonishing,  and  only  later  on  was  it 
reahsed  how  much  apphcation  and  attention  he  devoted  to 
his  duties  and  to  the  welfare  of  the  inhabitants.  His  Dutch 
assistants  who  held  high  office  were  altogether  unaccustomed 
to  witness  such  action  of  mind  and  body,  and  were  unable  to 
keep  pace  with  him.     They  held,  however,  the  very  deepest 

J. — VOL.  I.  A   A 


354  JAVA 

respect  and  confidence  in  him,  his  mild,  conciliatory,  and 
unassuming  manners  entirely  captivating  them  ;  and  when 
troubles  arose  with  the  Government  in  India  and  the  Court 
of  Directors,  in  which  Raffles'  conduct  was  assailed,  they 
were  the  first  to  take  up  the  pen  vigorously  in  his  defence. 

Although  Raffles  left  Ryswyck  for  Buitenzorg  on  Lord 
Minto's  departure,  he  came  down  every  week  to  attend  the 
Council,  which  consisted  of  Gillespie  (commander  of  the 
forces),  W.  H.  Muntinghe,  Crausen,  and  Wardenar.  At 
Ryswyck  he  remained  a  day  or  two  according  to  circum- 
stances and  dispensed  hospitality  with  a  liberal  hand,  being 
most  attentive  to  all  the  members  of  the  former  Government, 
who  were  constant  guests  at  his  table. 

As  soon  as  he  could.  Raffles  wrote  from  Buitenzorg  to  the 
Court  of  Directors  regarding  the  internal  arrangements  for 
the  government  of  Java  as  follows  : — 

"  In  this  respect  stand  foremost  the  judicial  and  police  arrange- 
ments. Previous  to  the  establishment  of  the  British  Govern- 
ment in  Java  there  was  no  distinction  known  between  the  police 
and  the  judicial  administration  of  justice.  At  Batavia,  however, 
there  existed  a  Supreme  Court  of  Judicature  and  a  bench  or 
court  of  aldermen  called  the  College  of  Schepenen  :  and  at 
Sourabaya  and  Samarang  inferior  Courts  of  Justice  had  been 
established  ;  and  in  each  district  a  court  termed  the  Landrost, 
consisting  of  the  Landrost,  Regent,  and  High  Priest,  exercised 
both  the  police  and  judicial  jurisdiction  :  the  only  distinction 
which  existed  was  that  all  the  Company's  servants  should  be 
amenable  to  the  regular  Courts  of  Justice,  or  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Batavia,  while  all  other  persons  of  every  description  were 
imder  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Schepenen.  A  difference  of  persons 
was  altogether  so  strongly  against  our  principles  of  public  justice 
and  public  individual  right,  and  the  principle  on  which  such 
distinctions  might  originally  have  been  fomided  had  so  entirely 
ceased  by  the  abolition  of  all  distinction  between  the  servants  of 
the  late  Company  and  all  other  individuals,  that  an  entire  change 
and  separation  of  the  police  from  the  judicial  authorities  became 
necessary,  and  was  directed  by  the  instructions  left  with  me  by 
the  Governor-General. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     355 

"  The  copy  of  the  Proclamation  pubHshed  in  our  first  Govern- 
ment Gazette  will  sufficiently  explain  the  principles  on  which 
we  proceeded,  and  I  flatter  myself  with  the  approbation,  not  only 
of  the  Governor-General,  but  of  the  authorities  in  England,  of 
the  measure  taken  by  us  of  establishing  the  trial  by  jury,  which  I 
am  happy  to  say  has  given  miiversal  satisfaction  here,  and 
although  with  the  other  new  arrangements  giving  rise  to  new 
difficulties,  it  is  not  likely  to  meet  with  any  serious  obstacle. 

"  The  Courts  of  Justice  and  poUce,  as  now  modelled,  are  now 
in  full  exercise,  and  I  hope  this  colony  may  receive  all  the  advan- 
tages of  British  jurisprudence  without  entailing  on  it  the  disadvan- 
tages of  a  judicial  estabUshment  from  England,  of  all  things  the 
most  to  be  dreaded  for  the  general  prosperity  and  happiness  of 
the  population. 

"  The  British  Courts  of  Justice  fit  with  difficulty  our  permanent 
English  estabhshments  in  India,  but  here  their  introduction 
would  lead  to  anarchy,  vexation,  and  trouble  without  end." 

The  following  was  Lord  Minto's  Proclamation  before 
leaving  Java  for  Bengal : — 

Proclamation. 

"  For  the  satisfaction  of  the  inhabitants  and  people  of  Java, 
the  following  provisions  are  made  public  in  testimony  of  the 
sincere  disposition  of  the  British  Government  to  promote  their 
prosperity  and  welfare. 

"  The  refusal  of  their  late  Government  to  treat  for  their  interests, 
although  disabled  by  the  events  of  war  from  affording  them  any 
further  protection,  has  rendered  the  consequent  estabhshment 
of  the  British  authority  unconditional. 

"  But  an  English  Government  does  not  require  the  articles  of 
a  capitulation  to  impose  those  duties  which  are  prompted  by  a 
sense  of  justice,  and  a  beneficent  disposition.  The  people  of 
Java  are  exhorted  to  consider  their  new  connection  with  England 
as  founded  on  principles  of  mutual  advantage,  and  to  be  con- 
ducted in  a  spirit  of  kindness  and  affection. 

"  Providence  has  brought  to  them  a  protecting  and  benevolent 
Government :  they  will  cheerfully  perform  the  duties  of  allegiance 
and  attachment. 

"  1.  His  Majesty's  subjects  in  Java  wiU  be  entitled  to  the  same 
general  privileges  as  are  enjoyed  by  the  natural  born  subjects 

A    A    2 


356  JAVA 

of  Great  Britain  in  India,  subject  to  such  regulations  as  now 
exist,  or  may  hereafter  be  provided,  respecting  residence  in 
any  of  the  Honourable  Company's  territories. 

"2.  They  will  have  the  same  freedom  and  privilege  of  trade 
to  and  with  all  countries  to  the  east  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
and  also  with  His  Majesty's  European  dominions  as  are  possessed 
by  natural  born  subjects  of  Great  Britain. 

"  3.  Dutch  gentlemen  will  be  eligible  to  all  offices  of  trust, 
and  will  enjoy  the  confidence  of  Government  according  to  their 
respective  characters,  conduct,  and  talents,  in  common  with 
British  born  subjects. 

"  4.  The  vexatious  system  of  monopoly,  which  is  understood 
to  have  hitherto  prevailed  in  some  instances  to  an  oppressive 
and  inconvenient  extent,  will  be  revised,  and  a  more  beneficial 
and  pohtic  principle  of  administration  will  be  taken  into  considera- 
tion as  soon,  and  to  such  extent,  as  full  information  on  the  subject 
can  be  obtained,  as  established  usage  and  habit  may  admit,  and 
as  may  be  consistent  with  a  due  regard  to  the  health  and  morals 
of  the  people. 

"5.  The  Dutch  laws  will  remain  provisionally  in  force,  under  the 
modifications  which  will  be  hereinafter  expressed,  until  the  pleasure 
of  the  Supreme  Authorities  in  England  shall  be  known,  and  it  is 
conceived  that  no  material  alteration  therein  is  to  be  apprehended. 

"  The  modifications  to  be  now  adopted  are  the  following  : 

"  First.  Neither  torture  nor  mutilation  shall  make  part  of 
any  sentence  to  be  pronounced  against  criminals. 

"  Secondly.  When  a  British  born  subject  is  convicted  of  any 
offence,  no  punishment  shall  be  awarded  against  him  more  severe 
than  would  be  inflicted  by  the  laws  of  England  for  the  same 
crime,  and  in.  case  of  doubt  concerning  the  penalty  by  English 
law,  reference  shall  be  made  to  the  Honourable  the  Recorder  of 
Prince  of  Wales'  Island,  whose  report  shall  be  sufficient  warrant 
for  awarding  the  penalty  stated  by  him  to  be  agreeable  to  the 
laws  of  England.  No  sentence  against  any  British  born  subject 
for  any  crime  or  misdemeanour  shall  be  carried  into  execution 
until  a  report  shall  have  been  made  to  the  Lieutenant-Governor. 

"  Thirdly.  No  sentence  of  death  against  any  person  whatever 
shall  be  carried  into  execution  until  report  shall  have  been  made 
to  the  Lieutenant-Governor. 

*'  Fourthly.  The  Lieutenant-Governor  shall  have  the  power 
of  remitting,  moderating,  or  confirming  all  penalties,  excepting 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     357 

inconsiderable   fines,    short   imprisonment,    or     slight     corporal 
punishment. 

"  Fifthly.  British  born  subjects  shall  be  amenable  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Dutch  tribunals  and  to  the  Dutch  laws,  in  all 
cases  of  civil  complaint  or  demands,  whether  they  be  plaintiffs 
or  defendants. 

"  Sixthly.  All  British  born  subjects  shall  be  subject  to  the 
regulations  of  police,  and  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  magistrates 
charged  with  the  execution  thereof,  and  with  the  maintenance 
of  peace,  and  with  public  tranquillity  and  security. 

"  Seventhly.  All  persons  belonging  to  or  attached  to  the  army, 
who  are  by  their  condition  subject  to  mihtary  law,  shall  for  the 
present  be  tried  for  any  crimes  they  may  commit  only  by  courts 
martial,  unless  sent  by  the  mihtary  authorities  to  civil  courts. 

*'  Eighthly.  It  being  necessary  in  all  countries  that  a  power 
should  exist  of  forming  regulations  in  the  nature  of  legislative 
provisions  adapted  to  change  of  circumstances,  or  to  meet  any 
emergency  that  may  arise,  and  the  great  distance  of  the  British 
Authorities  in  Europe  rendering  it  expedient  that  the  said  power 
should  for  the  present  reside  in  some  accessible  quarter,  it  is 
declared  that  the  Lieutenant-Governor  shall  have  full  power  and 
authority  to  pass  such  legislative  regulations  as  on  deliberation, 
and  after  due  consultation  and  advice,  may  appear  to  him 
indispensably  necessary,  and  that  they  shall  have  the  full  force 
of  law.  But  the  same  shall  be  immediately  reported  to  the 
Governor-General  in  Council  in  Bengal,  together  with  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor's reasons  for  passing  the  said  regulations,  and 
any  representations  that  may  have  been  submitted  to  him 
against  the  same,  and  the  regulations  so  passed  will  be  confirmed 
or  disallowed  by  the  Governor-General  in  Council  with  the  shortest 
possible  delay.  The  mode  in  which  the  Lieutenant-Governor 
shall  be  assisted  with  advice  will  hereafter  be  made  known,  and 
such  regulations  shall  hereafter  be  framed  as  may  be  thought 
more  conducive  to  the  prompt,  pure,  and  impartial  administra- 
tion of  justice,  civil  and  criminal. 

*'  Regulations  respecting  the  paper  currency,  as  well  as  the 
relative  value  of  coins  circulating  in  Java,  will  be  published  in  a 
separate  paper  of  this  date. 

"  Done  at  Molenvliet,  the  11th  September,  1811,  by  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governor-General  of  British  India, 

"  MmTO." 


358  JAVA 

British  Eesidents  were  appointed  at  all  the  capitals  of  the 
various  residencies  in  the  island,  and  at  the  settlements  in 
the  dependencies.  In  many  instances  they  were  officers 
from  the  army  or  navy,  several  of  whom  remained  on  the 
island  in  a  private  capacity  for  years  after  the  Dutch  had 
returned  to  Java.  A  list  of  these  Eesidents  is  given  at  the 
end  of  this  chapter. 

Visit  to  the  Sultan  of  Djockjakarta. — Raffles  had  hardly 
had  time  to  settle  all  the  judicial  and  administrative 
questions  in  Java,  when  trouble  at  the  native  courts  of 
Palembang  and  Djockjakarta  made  fresh  demands  upon 
his  valuable  time. 

The  Sultan  of  Djockjakarta,  a  most  turbulent  and 
intriguing  prince,  who  naturally  retained  a  rooted  ani- 
mosity against  the  Europeans  in  Java,  now  indulged,  like 
so  many  of  his  predecessors,  in  the  hope  that  the  time  had 
arrived  for  their  expulsion. 

Daendels  had  already  once  had  to  march  an  army  against 
him  and  to  go  in  person  to  his  capital.  He  fined  him  200,000 
Spanish  dollars.  He  would  have  sacked  his  capital  and 
banished  him,  had  he  not  feared  to  do  so,  as  the  arrival  of 
the  English  w^as  expected  daily,  and  the  money  at  that  time 
was  greatly  needed,  besides  which  Daendels  cherished  the 
idea  of  being  able  to  return  another  time  and  carry  out  his 
wishes. 

Raffles  decided  to  visit  the  Sultan  himself,  and  find  out 
why  the  treaty  entered  into  between  the  British  Government 
and  the  Sultan  had  not  been  kept  by  the  latter.  In  this 
treaty  the  sovereignty  of  the  British  over  Java  was  acknow^- 
ledged  by  the  Sultan,  who  confirmed  to  the  English  East 
India  Company  all  the  privileges,  advantages,  and  preroga- 
tives which  had  been  possessed  by  the  Dutch  and  French 
Governments. 

To  the  Company  also  w^ere  transferred  the  sole  regulation 
of   the   duties   and   the   collection   of   tribute   wdthin   the 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     359 

dominions  of  the  Sultan,  as  well  as  the  general  administra- 
tion of  justice  in  cases  where  British  interests  were  con- 
cerned. 

In  December,  1811,  Eaffles  proceeded  to  Djockjakarta 
with  only  a  small  escort  consisting  of  a  part  of  the  14th 
Begiment,  a  troop  of  the  22nd  Light  Dragoons,  and  the 
ordinary  garrison  of  Bengal  Sepoys  in  the  fort  and  at  the 
Eesidency  House.  This  smaU  force  was  in  no  condition  to 
enforce  terms  in  any  way  obnoxious  to  the  Sultan,  even  if 
Raffles  had  been  so  inclined.  In  fact  the  whole  retinue  at 
one  moment  were  in  imminent  danger  of  being  murdered, 
krisses  being  unsheathed  by  several  of  the  Sultan's  suite  in 
the  audience  hall  where  Eaffles  received  that  i>rince,  who 
was  accompanied  by  several  thousands  of  armed  followers, 
whose  behaviour  expressed  such  an  infuriated  spirit  of 
insolence  as  plainly  to  indicate  that  they  only  waited  for 
the  signal  to  begin  the  work  of  slaughter,  in  which  case  not 
a  man,  owing  to  the  way  in  which  they  were  surrounded, 
could  have  escaped. 

The  story  of  the  audience  is  worth  telhng. 

When  the  Lieutenant-Governor  arrived  at  the  boundary 
of  the  Residency  of  Djockjakarfca  he  was  met  by  a  large 
multitude  of  Javans  and  a  guard  of  honour,  and  by  Resident 
Crawfurd  and  the  Sultan.  Carriages  with  four  horses 
richly  caparisoned  to  drive  the  illustrious  party  to  the 
capital  were  ready,  the  finest  of  all  being  that  reserved  for 
the  Sultan  and  standing  at  the  top  of  the  line.  After  the 
necessary  civilities  had  passed  in  the  pavihon  erected  and  a 
salute  had  been  fired,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  proposed 
to  start,  and  began  making  his  way  to  the  first  carriage  ; 
the  Sultan,  seeing  his  object,  pushed  ahead,  but  Raffles' 
aides-de-camp  kept  him  back,  while  the  Lieutenant-Governor 
jumped  into  the  first  carriage  with  his  officers  and  forced 
the  coachmen  and  outriders  to  move  on,  surrounded  by  the 
British  cavalry.     The  Sultan  had  nothing  else  to  do  than 


360  JAVA 

to  take  the  second  carriage,  and,  in  a  rage,  followed  to  the 
capital..  The  insult  to  him  was  great,  as  he  acknowledged 
thereby  to  all  his  people  his  inferiority  to  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor.  When  they  arrived  at  the  Kesidency  House 
there  were  two  grand  golden  thrones  ready,  one  for  the 
Lieutenant-Governor  and  one  for  the  Sultan.  That  for  the 
Lieutenant-Governor  stood  shghtly  in  front  of  the  other. 
Raffles  took  his  stool,  but  the  Sultan  stood,  declining  to 
sit  down  unless  his  throne  or  dampar  was  also  pulled  forward. 
Eaffles  refused  to  ahow  this.  In  a  minute  all  was  uproar, 
and  Raffles,  getting  angry,  unsheathed  his  sword  with  a 
glance  as  if  he  would  run  the  Sultan  through.  The  Sultan 
without  an  instant's  hesitation  drew  his  kris,  and  simul- 
taneously several  thousand  krisses  were  drawn.  The  scene 
was  a  dramatic  one  ;  all  was  confusion,  but  Raffles,  with 
his  brain  packed  in  ice,  kept  his  head,  and  quietly  sheathed 
his  sword  again,  whilst  a  few  quiet  words  from  the  Resident, 
John  Crawfurd,  eased  the  tension  of  the  situation.  The 
Sultan  was  at  last  induced  to  sit  down,  and  Raffles  began 
to  discuss  matters  with  him,  gaining  every  point  he  had 
striven  for.  At  the  end  of  the  diirhar  Raffles  proudly 
marched  out  of  the  audience  hall  between  the  sullen  and 
infuriated  Javans. 

Next  day  the  Sultan  awaited  the  return  visit  of  the 
Lieutenant-Governor,  with  his  troops,  a  guard  of  honour, 
etc.  ;  but  he  waited  in  vain,  for  the  Lieutenant-Governor, 
to  allow  him  fully  to  understand  how  inferior  he  stood  to 
the  power  paramount,  and  as  a  lesson  to  him  for  his  behaviour 
of  the  previous  day,  had  returned  with  his  staff  to  Batavia. 
The  Sultan,  when  John  Crawfurd  visited  him,  was  very 
dejected,  but  later  on  vowed  vengeance  for  the  insults  he 
imagined  he  had  received  from  the  Enghsh  in  the  eyes  of 
his  people. 

Although  no  act  of  treachery  had  occurred,  the  Sultan 
had  made  up  his  mind  that  the  expulsion  of  the  English  was 


'^WUk^-' 


i 


the  resident  s  office  at  tawang,  samarang,  during  the  english  period. 

(built  about  1775.) 


BRITISH    officers'    QUARTERS,    SAMARANG    (iN'    DISTRICT    OF    TAWANg},    1811-1816. 

(these  quarters  were  built  about  1775.) 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     361 

quite  feasible  and  resolved  to  set  about  finding  the  means 
of  accomplishing  it.  Raffles  also  was  assured  that  the 
Enghsh  would  sooner  or  later  come  to  blows  with  the  Sultan, 
and  began  shaping  his  jjlans  accordingly. 

All  Arab  sets  himself  up  as  a  Sultan  at  Indramayoe. — In 
the  meantime,  however,  Raffles'  attention  was  turned 
elsewhere.  Bagoos  Rang  In,  a  noted  Arabian  rebel,  had 
assembled  in  the  district  of  Indramayoe  a  number  of  deserters 
and  fugitives  from  the  French  army  after  the  battle  of 
Cornelis,  and  now  began  seizing  villages  and  looting  them. 

He  had  been  at  large  for  six  years,  and  the  Dutch  had 
been  unable  to  capture  him,  for  he  had  imposed  on  the 
credulity  of  the  natives  by  assuming  the  title  of  High  Priest, 
and  maintaining  a  position  as  a  Prophet  of  Allah.  Their 
veneration  for  him  was  so  great  that  no  temptations  or 
rewards  had  led  to  his  betrayal. 

He  now  threatened  Indramayoe,  and  the  fort  had  to  be 
closed. 

A  detachment  of  Bengal  Sepoys  under  Captain  Pool  was 
sent  at  once  by  Raffles  to  strengthen  the  garrison,  and 
another  detachment  of  Europeans  and  natives  under 
Captain  Ralph,  of  H.M.  59th  Regiment,  followed  soon  after. 
The  rebel  was  now  attacked,  and  it  was  found  he  had  two 
thousand  musketmen,  who  were  drawn  up  behind  a  bank  in 
an  absolutely  safe  place.  The  British  soldiers  waded  across 
sloppy  rice  fields  and  charged  with  the  baj^'onet,  which 
caused  the  rebels  to  flee,  leaving  numbers  killed  and  wounded, 
the  loss  to  the  Enghsh  being  only  one  rank  and  file  of  the 
59th  Regiment  killed,  and  Captain  Jones,  of  the  Bengal 
Service,  and  several  rank  and  file  wounded. 

Bagoos  Rang  In  escaped,  though  the  effect  was  decisive, 
and  those  of  his  men  who  escaped  nearly  all  deserted  him. 

This  little  affair  was  scarcely  over  when  serious  trouble 
arose  at  Palembang,  where  fearful  cruelties  had  been 
perpetrated  by  an  unfeeling  monster  in  the  massacre  of  the 


362  JAVA 

Europeans  and  natives  belonging  to  the  Dutch  factory, 
who  had  been  put  to  death  in  cold  blood. 

To  punish  this  act  of  perfidy  on  the  part  of  the  Sultan 
Batu  Achniet  Baruddin  (who  had  been  raised  to  the  throne 
in  1780  by  the  Dutch)  an  expedition  was  immediately  fitted 
out,  and  sailed  from  Batavia  on  the  20th  March,  1812,  under 
command  of  Colonel  Gillespie,  the  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  forces  in  Java,  to  whom  Baffles  confided  the  whole 
management,  leaving  it  to  his  individual  judgment  and 
direction  to  act  as  he  considered  best. 

The  fleet  consisted  of : — 

H.M.S.  Cornelia       ....  Captain  Owen. 

H.M.S.  Bucephalus  ....  Captain  Drury. 

H.M.  sloop  Procris  ....  Captain  Freeman. 

The  Hon.  Company's  cruiser  Teign-  Captain  Howitson. 

mouth. 

The  Hon.  Company's  cruiser  Mercury  Captain  Conyers. 

Gunboats  :  Schooner  Wellington         .  Captain  Cromy. 

Schooner  Young  Barra-  Captain  Lynch. 
couta. 
Transports  :   Samdang,  Minerva,  Matilda,  Mary  Ann. 

Captain  Bowen,  of  H.M.S.  Phoenix,  met  the  fleet  at  sea, 
and  took  its  command  as  senior  naval  officer. 

Troops  embarked  were  : — 

Detachment  H.M,  59th  Regiment,  three  companies,  rifle  and 
flank  companies. 

Detachment  H.M.  89th  Regiment,  five  companies. 

Detachment  Madras  Horse  Artillery  and  Hussars  dis- 
mounted. 

Detachment  Bengal  Artillery,  detail ;  and  detachment  of 
Sepoys,  5th  and  6th  Battalions. 

Detachment  Amboynese. 

A  considerable  number  of  guns  and  military  stores 
intended  for  the  new  settlement  of  Banca  were  put  on  board 
the  transports. 

On  the  3rd  April  the  fleet  reached  Nangka  Island  and 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     363 

remained  there  a  week.  Tents  were  pitched  on  shore,  and 
boats  were  constructed  for  the  passage  up  the  Palembang 
river. 

On  the  17th  April  H.M.S.  Procris,  Barracouta,  Wellington, 
Teignmouth,  and  Mercury  were  all  got  over  the  bar,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  troops  destined  to  proceed  up  the  river 
were  transferred  from  the  large  ships  and  transports  to  the 
armed  brigs  and  small  craft.  Some  flat  boats  were  appro- 
priated for  the  field  artillery. 

On  the  18th  the  remaining  troops  were  transferred  to 
their  respective  vessels,  after  which  the  whole  got  under 
weigh  and  went  ten  miles  up  the  river,  coming  to  anchor  at 
midnight. 

Major  Eaban,  of  the  Bengal  Service,  was  detached  with 
the  native  troops,  consisting  of  two  hundred  Sepoys  and  the 
same  number  of  Amboynese,  to  effect  a  landing  at  the  point 
which  projects  from  Monapin  Hill  near  Minta,^  in  the  island 
of  Banca. 

The  following  directions  were  issued  for  the  hne  of  battle 
ahead  and  the  order  of  sailing  : — 

Look-out  boats. 

***** 
Division  of  light  boats. 

Gun  launches.  Flat  boats  with  field  guns. 

H.M.S.  Procris. 

Gunboat-schooner   Young  Barracouta. 

Mercury. 

Flats  and  other  boats. 

Wellington, 

Teignmouth. 

These  orders  were  necessarj^  as  Palembang  was  some 
distance  up  river,  and  the  Sultan  possessed  the  means  of 

^  Called  now  Muntok. 


364  JAVA 

impeding  the  British  advance,  so  that  the  utmost  care  was 
necessary. 

There  were  also  the  formidable  batteries  at  Borang,  which 
from  their  favourable  situation  enabled  the  enemy  to  inflict 
considerable  havoc  upon  the  flotilla. 

The  enemy  also  possessed  fire-rafts,  numerous  armed 
prows,  and  floating  batteries,  thus  being  well  provided  with 
the  means  to  repel  the  British. 

The  Battle  Orders  were  as  follows  : — 

"  When  the  signal  is  made  to  anchor  it  will  be  accompanied 
with  a  red  pendant  over.  If  the  Squadron  are  to  anchor  in  Une 
ahead,  with  the  same  pendant  under.  If  a  line  abreast,  or 
athwart  the  river,  the  Division  of  Light  Boats  under  Lieutenant 
Monday  wiU  always  anchor  in  line  abreast,  about  half  a  mile 
ahead  of  the  leader  of  the  Une  of  battle. 

"  The  other  boats  wiU  anchor  in  their  stations  ;  the  gunboats, 
flats  and  launches  rather  ahead  of  the  leader  of  the  hne,  and  on 
each  bow.  The  line  of  battle  abreast  will  be  formed  by  the 
Division  of  Light  Boats  in  advance,  anchored  in  a  Hne 
abreast. 

"  The  gunboats,  flats,  and  launches  ;  in  the  next  line,  Mercury, 
Wellington,  Procris,  Young  Barracouta,  and  Teignmouth.  In 
this  order,  if  it  should  become  necessary  to  brmg  the  broadsides 
of  the  ship  to  bear  up  the  river,  the  signal  will  be  made  for  the 
boats,  first  and  second  line,  to  retire  through  the  intervals  of  the 
third  hue,  and  form  in  the  rear,  in  two  lines  as  before.  The  hght 
boats  are  to  keep  a  strict  look-out,  and  have  the  fire  grapplings 
and  logs  constantly  ready. 

"  The  look-out  boats  of  the  Light  Division  are  never  to  be 
more  than  one  mile  from  the  headmost  ship  or  vessel  of  the 
Squadron,  unless  otherwise  directed  by  signal,  and  no  boats 
whatever  except  the  mmander  of  the  Forces  be  in  her  to  pass 
ahead  of  the  headmost  look-out  boat  without  permission.  The 
boats  of  the  Light  Division  are  never  to  lose  sight  of  the  Squadron, 
even  though  the  winding  of  the  river  should  enable  them  to  do 
so  without  exceeding  their  prescribed  distance. 

"  On  the  approach  of  armed  boats  of  the  natives,  the  look-out 
boats  are  to  retreat  in  silence  and  good  order  to  the  body  of  their 
division,  which  is  also  to  fall  back  to  the  Procris,  where  they  will 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     365 

receive  further  orders.  And  no  boats  are  on  any  account  to  fire 
a  shot  or  to  attempt  a  dash,  though  the  circumstances  be  ever  so 
favourable,  nor,  in  short,  commit  any  act  of  hostiHty  without 
orders. 

"  The  Squadron  are  to  observe  and  obey  the  signals  of  the 
Barracouta,  where  the  Commander  of  the  Forces  is  embarked. 
The  Barracouta  wears  a  Union  Jack  while  the  Commander  of 
the  Forces  remains  on  board. 

"  Here  follow  various  signals  for  forming  the  line  of  battle, 
according  to  circumstances." 

The  fleet  having  taken  longer  time  to  get  to  Palembang 
than  was  expected,  owing  to  contrary  winds,  the  Sultan  had 
plenty  of  time  to  consider  whether  he  would  fight  or  flee. 
With  a  view  to  the  latter  possibility,  he  removed  his  treasure 
and  his  wives  into  the  interior,  sending  messages  of  respect 
to  the  British  commander,  hoping  thereby  to  mislead  him. 

When  the  batteries  of  Borang  were  sighted  it  was  found, 
as  was  expected,  that  they  were  well  armed,  and  the  armed 
prows  had  been  joined  hy  a  large  Arab  ship.  These  vessels, 
with  the  floating  batteries,  were  moored  across  the  river  in 
echelon,  raking  with  their  guns  the  whole  length  of  the 
passage  ;  whilst  the  artillery  from  the  fixed  batteries  bore 
across  the  channel  by  which  the  British  flotilla  had  to 
advance,  thus  enabling  the  enemy  to  bring  the  fire  of  their 
guns  to  a  focus  on  any  point  in  the  line  of  the  advance. 

Fire-rafts  were  ready  to  cast  adrift,  to  complete  the 
discomfiture. 

Messengers  still  continued  to  arrive,  congratulating 
Colonel  Gillespie  on  having  come  safely  so  far,  and  saying 
that  the  Sultan  would  be  happy  to  see  him,  but  that  he 
hoped  he  would  visit  him  without  so  large  a  force,  as  the 
Sultan  feared  the  appearance  of  so  many  armed  men  would 
disturb  the  inhabitants  of  Palembang.  It  was  easy  enough 
to  see  the  insidiousness  and  falseness  of  this  proposal,  and 
Colonel  Gillespie  knew  the  base  and  treacherous  Sultan  far 
too  well  to  aUow  himself  for  one  moment  to  be  taken  in. 


366  JAVA 

The  Sultan  had  insulted  the  Government  by  his  offensive 
want  of  attention  to  the  British  mission  sent  him  during  the 
preceding  November,  and  had  added  to  the  insult  by  sending 
an  ambassador  to  Batavia  with  false  statements  about  the 
iniquitous  massacre  of  the  Dutch,  and  no  faith  whatever 
was  to  be  placed  in  him. 

Captain  Meares,  the  Malay  interpreter,  now  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  Borang  batteries  :  no  time  was  given  for 
consideration  ;  if  they  surrendered  they  would  be  taken 
over  amicably  and  without  loss  of  life,  if  not,  they  would  be 
reduced  to  nothing.  Gillespie  was  close  at  hand  with 
detachments  of  the  59th  and  89th  Eegiments  in  light  boats, 
supported  by  gun-launches  and  field  artillery  in  flat  boats. 

Great,  indeed,  had  been  the  fatigue  and  discomfort  of  the 
soldiers  and  sailors  on  the  passage  up  the  river.  During  the 
day  while  rowing  they  were  exposed  to  the  rays  of  a  tropical 
sun  and  deprived  of  sleep  at  night  owing  to  incessant  rain- 
storms. Notwithstanding  all,  however,  their  ardour  was 
as  great  as  ever ;  and  nothing  could  shake  their  desire  to 
get  at  the  Sultan's  troops,  to  let  them  see  what  stuff  British 
sailors  and  soldiers  were  made  of. 

The  enemy,  however,  knew  this,  for  no  sooner  had  Captain 
Meares  put  the  question  than  the  garrison,  catching  a  glance 
of  the  British  coming  up,  were  terrified,  and,  wholly  un- 
mindful of  the  strict  and  positive  orders  of  the  brutal  Sultan 
to  defend  the  passage  here  to  the  very  last,  fled  as  fast  as 
they  could  to  the  eastern  part  of  Borang  Island  and  the 
western  side  of  Bintang  Island,  and  here  concealed  them- 
selves. 

The  guns  taken  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  two,  and 
were  already  charged  and  primed. 

The  large  Arab  ship  was  seized,  the  crew  deserting  it  in 
the  same  manner,  and  was  used  as  quarters  for  a  good 
portion  of  the  soldiers,  the  remainder  being  lodged  in  huts 
on  shore  and  on  floating  batteries  which  had  covers  to  them. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    181G     367 

When  the  flotilla  again  sailed  on,  the  fire-rafts,  which  it 
was  found  were  filled  with  combustibles  of  all  kinds,  were 
fired  and  let  loose.  They  were  extremely  dangerous  owing 
to  the  fact  that  they  were  all  fastened  together  and  stretched 
right  across  the  river,  the  current  carrying  them  down. 

Captain  Owen,  with  the  crews  of  the  hght  boats,  at 
8  o'clock  in  the  evening  was  successful,  however,  in  cutting 
the  rafts  asunder  before  they  were  thoroughly  in  flames. 
The  Cornelia's  guns  were  moreover  now  able  to  reach  the 
enemy,  and  the  parties  of  Malays  who  attempted  to  fire  the 
rafts  more  thoroughly,  so  as  to  make  them  blaze  quicker, 
were  fired  into  and  instantly  dispersed. 

On  the  25th  April  (the  day  following)  an  Arab  arrived, 
who  begged  his  ship  back,  which  was  given  him.  He  gave 
the  news  that  when  the  Sultan  heard  of  the  loss  of  the 
defences  of  Borang,  on  which  it  seems  he  had  pinned  his 
faith,  he  had  joined  his  wives  and  treasure,  knowing  there 
was  now  nothing  to  prevent  the  further  progress  of  the 
determined  British  troops.  The  Arab  said  that  on  account 
of  the  Sultan's  flight  the  greatest  confusion  and  plunder  and 
assassination  prevailed  in  the  fort,  the  palace,  and  even  the 
city. 

On  hearing  this  Colonel  Gillespie  did  not  delay  an  instant, 
and  hurried  with  the  small  boats  as  fast  as  he  could  go  to 
Palembang  city,  and  by  his  presence  prevented  the  entire 
massacre  of  the  wealthy  Chinese  and  other  inhabitants, 
whose  property  was  to  have  become  the  prize  of  the  assassins. 

Gillespie  proceeded  with  the  Arab  chief  in  his  canoe,  and 
was  accompanied  by  Captain  Meares  and  Mr.  Villneruby  (a 
Spaniard),  who  acted  as  interpreters. 

In  this  and  another  small  canoe  which  accompanied  them 
were  seven  grenadiers  of  the  59th  Eegiment,  and  these  were 
followed  by  Captain  Bowen,  E.N.,  Major  Butler,  D.A.G., 
Major  Thorn,  D.Q.M.G.,  in  the  gig  of  the  Phcenix,  and  by 
ten  more  grenadiers  in  the  barge  of  the  same  ship,  with 


368  JAVA 

Lieutenant  Monday,  E.N.,  and  Lieutenant  Forrest,  of  the 
59th  Kegiment.  The  remaining  troops,  under  Lieutenant 
McLeod,  had  orders  to  follow  with  all  possible  speed. 

The  distance  to  be  traversed  was  about  twenty  miles,  and 
when  Gillespie  arrived  at  Old  Palembang  it  was  already 
dark. 

The  canoes,  in  one  of  which  was  Gillespie,  had  shot  well 
ahead  of  the  other  two  boats,  which  were  not  even  in  sight. 
On  a  sudden  a  gun  was  fired  by  the  enemy,  and  a  dreadful 
heartrending  yelling  and  shrieking  was  heard  on  all  sides, 
and  lights  and  conflagrations  suddenly  burst  out  along  the 
banks  of  the  river  for  about  seven  miles. 

Those  in  the  two  boats  behind  had  also  heard  the  uproar, 
and  seeing  the  lights,  exhausted  as  they  were,  redoubled 
their  efforts  and  happily  came  up  in  time. 

To  describe  the  horrors  of  the  situation  is  impossible. 
Eomance  could  not  tell  anything  more  hideous  ;  nor  could 
any  invention  of  the  imagination  ever  be  so  appalling  as  that 
which  met  this  handful  of  Britishers  in  the  middle  of  the 
night,  in  the  interior  of  a  wild,  unknown  tropical  country, 
and  surrounded  by  a  hundred  thousand  demons  of  hell  let 
loose.  Nor  can  the  brave,  plucky,  and  undaunted  act  of 
this  small  party  of  Englishmen,  who,  to  revenge  the  deaths 
of  Dutch  fellowmen,  took  possession  of  the  fort  and  palace 
that  night,  be  surpassed.  To  meet  a  ferocious  foe  face  to 
face  in  daylight  is  one  thing  ;  to  do  so  under  the  present 
circumstances  on  a  pitch-dark  night  was  quite  another. 

Undismayed,  however,  by  the  terrible  uproar,  and  in  the 
face  of  large  bodies  of  armed  Malays,  Colonel  Gillespie 
stepped  bravely  on  shore,  and,  accompanied  by  the  seven 
grenadiers  and  the  officers  ah'eady  mentioned,  and  with  the 
Arab  chief  as  guide,  marched  through  a  multitude  of  Arabs 
and  treacherous  Malays,  whose  weapons,  steeped  in  poison, 
shone  by  the  light  of  the  torches  they  carried. 

Battlements  whose  appearance  in  the  dark  looked  massive, 


BRITISH   OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     369 

with  immense  gates  leading  from  one  court  to  the  other,  met 
Gillespie,  and  presented  a  fearful  spectacle  of  human  blood 
reeking  and  flowing  on  the  flagstones  of  the  courtyard. 
Once  they  were  inside  the  gates  closed  upon  the  British 
party,  so  that  no  escape  seemed  possible  from  this  veritable 
slaughter-house.  A  Malay  pressed  up  to  Gillespie  with  a 
double-edged  knife.  The  night  was  stormily  inclined,  and 
at  this  moment  a  flash  of  lightning  showed  him  the  weapon 
just  as  the  man  was  drawing  it  up  his  sleeve  to  conceal  it. 
Totally  regardless  of  the  crowd  around  them,  they  seized 
the  fellow  and  took  his  weapon  from  him. 

In  the  palace  reigned  devastation  and  cruelty.  Murder 
and  rapine  had  joined  hands,  and  the  place  had  been 
plundered  from  end  to  end.  To  add  to  the  dreadfulness  of 
the  situation,  rain  was  coming  down  in  torrents,  as  it  only 
can  in  the  tropics,  amid  a  storm  of  thunder  and  lightning. 
The  flames  were  now  getting  nearer  and  nearer  to  the 
palace  where  Gillespie  and  his  brave  few  were  waiting. 
The  crackling  of  bamboos  was  like  the  discharge  of  muskets 
— the  burning  roofs  kept  falling  in  ;  and  there  was  the 
dreadful  knowledge  that  the  palace  was  surrounded  by 
assassins,  into  whose  hands  the  approaching  fire  was  going 
to  drive  them.  Gillespie,  however,  decided  they  must  sell 
their  lives  dearly  and  endeavour  to  hold  the  fort  should 
any  attack  be  made  on  them  before  the  arrival  of  the  forces 
under  Colonel  McLeod.  The  grenadiers  were  stationed  at 
the  principal  entrance,  and  a  strict  guard  was  kept. 

At  midnight  Major  Trench  with  sixty  men  of  the  89th 
Eegiment  arrived,  and  was  welcomed  with  great  relief. 
He  had  had  literally  to  cut  his  way  through.  In  the 
morning  McLeod,  faithful  to  his  promise,  arrived  with  the 
entire  force  ;  the  task  had  been  a  hard  one,  indeed  almost 
an  impossible  one,  with  the  means  at  his  disposal,  but  he 
had  done  it.  The  fort,  with  its  two  hundred  and  forty- two 
guns,  was  now  taken  without  any  struggle. 

J. — VOL.  I-  B    B 


370  JAVA 

The  rapidity  of  the  movement,  the  arrival  in  the  night 
of  Gillespie,  and  then  Trench,  the  numbers  with  whom  were 
greatly  magnified  by  a  panic-stricken  foe,  whose  terror  was 
not  lessened  by  the  unexpected  arrival  of  McLeod  with  his 
large  force,  paralysed  the  efforts  of  the  Malays  and  threw 
them  into  utter  confusion,  as  always  happens  with  Asiatic 
races  when  the  unforeseen  arises. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  Gillespie's  timely  arrival  saved 
the  town  from  absolute  destruction  and  plunder. 

An  American,  who  was  the  supercargo  of  a  large  Chinese 
junk  then  lying  at  Palembang,  gave  Gillespie  an  account  of 
what  would  have  occurred  that  very  night  if  he  had  not 
arrived,  the  junk,  with  all  on  board,  having  in  fact  been 
marked  out  as  the  first  object  for  destruction. 

The  great  body  of  inhabitants  was  really  pleased  at  the 
change  of  masters,  having  endured  the  tyranny  of  the 
Sultan  and  his  eldest  son,  Pangeran  Katu,  long  enough. 

The  latter  had  been  particularly  notorious  in  the  wanton 
exercise  of  every  species  of  oppression,  cruelty,  criminal 
immorality,  and  bestiality.     The  vile,  libidinous  habits  of 
this  prince  indeed,  it  is  said,  were  the  first  cause  of  the 
terrible  massacre  of  the  Dutch  ;   it  seems  that  he  paid  one 
of  his  visits  by  night  to  the  wife  of  a  native,  who  resisted 
his  criminal  designs  on  her  honour,  and  yelled  for  assistance ; 
and  this  brought  out  the  guard  of  the  Dutch  factory,  which 
happened  to  be  near.     The  guard,  not  knowing-  who  the 
culprit  was,  pursued  him  to  his  prow  on  the  river,  which 
was  moored  a  few  yards  from  the  shore.    Pressed  by  the 
Dutch,  he  was  obhged  to  swim  to  his  boat,  but  once  there 
his  escape  was  assured.    No  sooner,  therefore,  was  he  on 
board,  than  he  turned  on  his  pursuers,  shouting  :  **  You  are 
ignorant  of  the  power  you  have  defied.     I  am  Pangeran 
Eatu,  and  in  three  days  you  shall  all  of  you  be  murdered 
and  your  factory  made  the  abode  for  birds  to  build  their 
nests  in." 


■M 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     371 

The  Sultan,  hearing  of  this  insulting  treatment  of  his  son, 
sent  a  message  to  the  Resident,  the  commandant,  and  the 
principal  officers  of  the  garrison  to  visit  him  for  the  object 
of  transacting  business  of  an  important  nature.  When  they 
had  left  the  fort  for  their  visit  to  the  Sultan,  armed  Malays 
surreptitiously  walked  in,  and  once  the  Resident's  party 
was  within  the  walls  of  the  palace  it  was  seized  and  all 
were  murdered.  The  fort  was  instantly  captured,  and  the 
garrison,  both  Europeans  and  natives,  seized,  bound,  and 
hurried  with  their  weeping  families  on  board  the  prows 
prepared  to  carry  them  down  the  river  to  a  place  called 
Soosang,  where  they  were  slowly  put  to  death.  Every 
cruelty  seems  to  have  been  practised  to  prolong  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  unhappy  men  ;  they  were  stabbed  with  krisses 
in  tender  places,  and  lacerated  in  a  shocking  manner, 
entirely  midescribable  here.  The  prows,  with  the  unhappy 
men  still  living,  were  then  set  on  fire. 

There  was  one  Dutchwoman,  the  wife  of  an  officer,  who, 
not  able  to  bear  the  thought  of  a  separation  from  her 
husband,  followed  him  on  board  one  of  the  prows,  although 
forbidden  to  do  so  ;  she  carried  her  infant  child  with  her. 
Her  fate  was  the  fate  of  the  other  unhappy  ladies,  for,  after 
being  first  polluted  by  these  monsters  in  a  manner  impossible 
to  relate,  she  was  murdered  and  her  body  thrown  over- 
board. 

The  Resident's  wife,  who  was  pregnant,  was  thrown  into 
the  jungle  without  food  or  shelter.  The  other  unfortunate 
ladies  were  sent  as  slaves  up-country  ;  some  with  their 
children  took  refuge  in  the  w^nods,  where  they  dragged  out 
a  miserable  existence  among  the  wild  beasts,  naked,  and  a 
helpless  prey  to  hunger  and  disease.  The  very  few  who 
survived  were  brought  in  a  most  deplorable  state  of  wretched- 
ness to  the  British  headquarters  after  the  capture  of  Palem- 
bang,  as  the  result  of  a  search  set  on  foot  by  Gillespie. 
To  detail  the  various  miseries  suffered  by  these  poor 

B    B    2 


372  JAVA 

women^  would  take  too  much  time  and  space.  For  months 
they  Hved  on  betel-nut  and  the  refuse  of  the  dunghill,  and 
there  was  no  refinement  of  cruelty  to  which  the  Sultan  and 
his  followers  did  not  subject  them.  There  was  no  persecu- 
tion too  great,  no  degradation  too  humihating,  for  these 
unfortunate  women.^ 

At  noon  on  the  28th  April,  1812,  the  British  flag  was 
hoisted,  under  a  royal  salute,  on  the  Sultan's  bastion. 

Pangeran  Adipatti,  brother  of  the  Sultan,  was  now 
invited  by  the  British  Commander  to  a  conference.  He  had 
a  good  reputation,  and,  as  it  appeared  afterwards,  had 
warned  his  brother  of  the  results  of  murdering  the  Dutch 
and  had  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  the  act. 

The  Pangeran  at  once  called  on  Gillespie  (the  29th  April) . 
He  was  received  at  the  landing-place  by  Captain  Meares  and 
all  the  officers  of  the  general  staff.  At  the  door  of  the  pubhc 
hall  Gillespie  awaited  him  and  conducted  him  to  where 
seats  were  arranged  for  all  the  company.  On  his  landing 
H.M.S.  Mercury  boomed  out  a  salute  of  nineteen  guns, 
and  as  he  entered  the  pubhc  hall  the  land  artillery  gave 
him  another  salute ;  this  considerably  impressed  the 
natives. 

After  sitting  for  a  short  time,  Gillespie  and  the  prince 
entered  a  private  apartment  and  conferred  alone,  through 
the  interpreter.  Captain  Meares. 

In  the  afternoon  the  Commander  of  the  Forces  returned 
the  visit. 

The  old  Sultan,  who  had  buried  his  treasure  and  put  to 
death  all  those  employed  in  burying  it,  so  that  the  secret  of 
its  hiding-place  might  be  known  only  to  him,  now  gave  up 

'  The  following  ladies  were  eventually  rescued  by  the  British  officers  : — 
Mrs.  Harflegter  and  two  children,  widow  of  the  Resident ;  Miss  Adriana 
Peters,  her  sister  ;  Mrs.  Volkers,  widow  of  one  of  the  writers  ;  Mrs.  Johanna 
Reignwits  and  Mrs.  Catsey  Veigser,  widows  of  corporals. 

''  When  found,  these  ladies  were  taken  under  the  special  care  of  Gillespie, 
who  personally  waited  on  them  and  saw  their  wants  were  suppUed. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     373 

all  hopes  of  returning  to  his  throne  and  withdrew  far  into 
the  interior. 

Gillespie  sent  a  long  dispatch  to  the  Lieutenant-Governor 
of  Java  and  its  dependencies,  in  which,  after  detailing  the 
whole  situation  and  the  several  operations,  he  concluded 
as  follows  : — 

"  Palembang,  28th  April,  1812. 

"  I  cannot  avoid  expressing  to  you  the  high  sense  I  entertain 
of  the  cordial  co-operation  and  support  that  has  been  afforded 
to  me  by  every  branch  of  the  Naval  Service  during  the  progress 
of  our  voyage  ;  particularly  the  arrangements  that  were  made 
in  the  first  instance  by  Captain  Owen,  of  H.M.S.  Cornelia,  and 
conducted  subsequently  by  Captain  Bowen,  of  H.M.S.  Phoenix, 
who  relieved  him  in  the  command.  Captain  Drury  of  H.M.S. 
Bucephalus,  was  necessarily  separated  from  the  body  of  the 
expedition  where  he  had  previously  manifested  great  anxiety 
to  forward  the  pubHc  interest.  I  cannot  refrain  from  offering 
my  most  grateful  thanks  and  acknowledgment  to  Captain  Bowen, 
and  bearing  public  testimony  to  the  energy,  zeal,  and  exertion 
displayed  by  those  valuable  officers  in  executing  the  important 
duties  of  their  situation. 

"  The  military  reputation  and  gallantry  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
McLeod,  of  H.M.  o9th  Regiment,  are  already  so  well  established 
that  any  panegyric  of  mine  would  add  little  to  the  fame  he  has 
so  justly  earned.  I  shall  therefore  content  myself  on  the  present 
occasion  with  returning  him  my  very  best  thanks  for  the  activity, 
anxiety,  and  attention  he  has  manifested  during  the  progress  of 
the  service. 

"  Major  Trench  and  the  detachment  of  the  89th  Regiment, 
Captain  Campbell  and  the  detachment  of  the  59th  Regiment, 
Captain  Simond,  of  the  Artillery,  are  all  entitled  to  my  warmest 
approbation.  To  Major  Butler,  D.A.G.,  Major  Thorn,  D.Q.M.G., 
and  the  Officers  composing  General,  Personal,  and  Brigade 
Staff  I  am  much  indebted  for  their  assiduity  and  attention. 

"  I  am  desirous,  however,  of  bringing  particularly  to  your 
notice  the  superior  quahfications  of  Captain  Meares,  who  has 
been  acting  both  as  my  Aide-de-Camp  and  Interpreter,  and  who 
has  displayed  an  activity,  zeal,  and  acquirement  that  enable 
him  to  discharge  the  dehcate  and  important  duties  of  his  situa- 


374  JAVA 

tion  with  honour  to  himself  and  great  advantage  to  the  pubhc 
service. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

"  Robert  Rollo  Gillespie 
"  (Colonel  Commanding  H.M.  Troops)." 

The  day  appointed  for  the  coronation  having  arrived,  at 
9.30  in  the  morning  Pangeran  Adipatti  landed  at  the  stairs 
in  front  of  the  palace.  Here  he  was  received  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Alexander  McLeod,  attended  by  the  officers  of  the 
staff,  and  was  conducted  to  the  gate  of  the  inner  court, 
where,  being  met  by  Colonel  Gillespie,  he  was  led  by  him  to 
the  public  hall,  in  which  a  throne  had  been  erected  under  a 
canopy  of  yellow  silk. 

Gillespie  conducted  him  first  to  a  couch  on  the  left  of  the 
throne,  covered  with  crimson  velvet,  on  which  they  seated 
themselves. 

The  troops  lined  the  way  from  the  landing-place,  keeping 
back  a  large  concourse  of  natives. 

A  proclamation  was  now  read  in  Malay,  at  which  Adipatti 
was  much  affected,  and  wiped  his  eyes  several  times. 

Gillespie  then  ordered  Captain  Meares  to  ask  the  crowd 
"  whether  it  was  their  wish  to  have  Pangeran  Adipatti  as 
their  ruler  over  them,"  to  which  they  gave  hearty  assent,  by 
loud  acclamations. 

Gillespie  then  led  the  Pangeran  Adipatti  and  seated  him 
on  the  throne,  which  was  raised  three  steps  above  the  level 
of  the  hall.  When  he  had  taken  his  seat  a  royal  salute  was 
fired,  the  British  colours  hauled  down,  and  those  of  the 
Sultan  hoisted  in  their  stead,  and  the  new  monarch  received 
the  salute  from  all  the  British  officers,  who  passed  him  in 
single  file,  with  Gillespie  at  their  head.  As  each  officer 
passed,  the  Sultan  answered  his  full  salute  by  taking  off  his 
own  hat. 

The  natives  then  came  in  their  order  of  precedence  ;  some 
kissed  the  hands,  others  the  knees  or  the  feet  of  the  Sultan, 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     375 

When  this  ceremony  was  over,  the  natives  again  seated 
themselves,  and,  silence  being  ordered,  the  Commander  of 
the  Forces,  speaking  through  an  interpreter,  addressed  the 
Sultan  in  the  following  speech  : — 

"  In  the  name  of  His  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  Honourable 
East  India  Company,  I  have  the  honour  to  place  you,  Pangeran 
Adipatti,  on  the  throne  of  your  brother  Mahmud  Badruddin, 
deposed  for  atrocious  and  barbarous  murders,  and  now  declare 
you  duly  constituted  Sultan  of  Palembang  and  its  Dependencies, 
under  the  title  of  Sultan  Ratu  Achmen  Najmuddin. 

"  Long  may  you  live  to  enjoy  the  high  and  exalted  rank  which 
the  EngHsh  nation  have  conferred  upon  you. 

"  May  God  watch  over  j^our  actions  and  direct  your  councils  ; 
and  may  the  punishment  inflicted  on  the  late  Sultan  (who  by 
listening  to  evil  counsellors  and  wicked  men  has  drawn  on  himself 
the  vengeance  of  a  great  and  powerful  people)  be  a  warning  to 
you  to  avoid  similar  errors. 

"  May  J' our  reign  be  prosperous  and  happy.  May  you  con- 
tribute by  your  goodness  and  justice  to  the  happiness  and  welfare 
of  your  subjects,  and  may  they  have  reason  to  bless  the  nation 
that  have  placed  you  on  the  throne  of  the  City  of  Safety."  ^ 

The  ceremony  was  striking  and  impressive  throughout, 
and  had  a  powerful  effect  on  the  prince  and  all  the  natives. 
It  was  in  fact  a  brilliant  display  of  that  great  magnanimity 
for  which  the  British  character  is  celebrated. 

The  speech  of  Gillespie  being  concluded,  he  took  the  Sultan 
by  the  hand  and  conducted  him  to  the  landing-place,  where 
the  royal  barge  awaited  him. 

The  British  officers  now  stood  at  attention,  saluting  as 
the  Sultan  left  the  stairs.  x\t  this  moment  the  brigs-of-war 
and  all  the  sloops  in  the  river,  which  were  gaily  decorated 
for  the  occasion,  as  also  all  the  native  boats,  fired  a  royal 
salute.  This  circumstance  immensely  excited  the  admira- 
tion of  the  native  population. 

J  Palembang,  in  the  old  Malay  historical  works,  is  styled  "  the  City  of 
Safety." 


376  JAVA 

On  the  16th  May  a  State  banquet  was  given  by  the  Sultan, 
at  which  Gillespie  and  all  the  British  ofl&cers  were  present. 

The  next  day  the  Sultan  took  possession  of  the  palace  and 
the  British  troops  embarked. 

Eaffles  was  at  Cheribon  when  he  received  the  news  of  the 
British  victory. 

General  orders  were,  however,  at  once  issued  recapitulat- 
ing the  event,  from  which  the  following  is  a  short  extract  : — 

"  Cheribon,  May  27th,  1812. 
"  The  Lieutenant-Governor  has  the  highest  satisfaction  in 
communicating  to  the  army,  during  the  absence  of  the  Commander 
of  the  Forces,  and  to  the  pubUc  in  general,  the  full  and  complete 
accompHshments  of  the  objects  which  the  British  Government 
had  in  view  in  adopting  measures  of  hostiUty  against  the  Sultan 
of  Palembang,  etc.,  etc. 

"  Signed  by  order  of  the  Honourable  Lieutenant-Governor, 

"  C.  G.  Blagrave 

"  (Ass.  Sec.  to  Gov.)." 

From  Cheribon  RafHes  proceeded  to  Samarang,  so  as  to 
be  near  Djockjakarta  and  Soerakarta,  which  were  sources 
of  continual  trouble  and  friction.  His  family  followed  him. 
At  Samarang  Raffles  lost  no  opportunity  for  gaining  local 
knowledge,  as  was  his  invariable  custom. 

He  lived  in  the  new  palace^  just  constructed,  a  beautiful 
building  at  the  end  of  the  Bodjing  road,  some  distance  out- 
side the  city  walls,  and  surrounded  by  the  forest  on  all  sides, 
and  with  a  high  hill  on  its  right  and  a  view  of  the  mountains 
behind  it. 

He  entertained  a  great  deal,  the  native  chiefs  being  con- 
stant guests,  a.nd,  although  society  at  Samarang  was  small 
in  comparison  with  Batavia,  sixty  to  eighty  persons  were 
always  present  on  public  occasions  at  Government  House, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  eighty  on  ball 
nights.     Raffles  was  always  busy  ;   and  the  only  recreation 

^  This  palace  was  pulled  down  in  1908. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     377 

he  allowed  himself  was  an  evening  drive  to  the  foot  of  the 
Chandi  Hills,  and  sometimes  a  morning  ride  to  Kaliewongoe. 
His  dinner-hour  was  4  o'clock,  so  that  a  drive  could  still  be 
taken  afterwards  ;  but  for  public  banquets  7  o'clock  was 
the  hour.  He  was  always  affable,  animated,  agreeable,  and 
attentive  to  all. 

No  public  servant  ever  applied  himself  with  more  care 
and  zeal  to  such  arduous  duties.  He  allowed  himself  no 
relaxation,  his  motto  being,  *'  My  country  first." 

When  Gillespie  and  the  troops  from  Palembang  arrived 
in  Java  they  were  ordered  on  to  Samarang. 

On  his  arrival  the  following  general  orders  were  published  : 

"  Samarang,  June  6th,   1812. 

"  The  Lieutenant-Governor  is  happy  to  congratulate  Colonel 
Gillespie  on  his  return  to  Java  and  on  the  full  accomplishment  of 
the  objects  of  the  late  Expedition. 

"  The  successful  termination  of  these  operations  in  a  manner 
so  highly  beneficial  to  the  interests  of  humanity,  and  to  the 
security  and  advantage  of  the  British  possessions  in  those  seas, 
must  be  entirely  attributed  to  the  prompt,  judicious  and  politic 
measures  adopted  under  the  personal  direction  of  the  Commander 
of  the  Forces.  And  although  the  applause  so  justly  due  on  this 
occasion  may  rather  fall  within  the  province  of  a  higher  authority 
to  whom  the  proceedings  will  be  submitted,  it  is  gratifying  to 
the  Lieutenant-Governor  that  he  is  not  precluded  from  bearing 
public  testimony  to  the  services  which  have  been  rendered,  nor 
of  expressing  his  admiration  of  the  superior  talent  and  character 
which  has  been  so  conspicuous  throughout. 

"  The  Lieutenant-Governor  requests  Colonel  Gillespie  will 
accept  his  best  thanks  for  the  zeal,  ability,  and  precision  with 
which  the  service  has  been  executed  ;  and  in  recordhig  his  entire 
approbation  and  unreserved  confirmation  of  the  whole  of  the 
arrangements  made  for  the  future  security  and  advantage  of 
the  British  interests,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  is  satisfied  that  he 
only  anticipates  the  sentiments  of  the  Supreme  Government. 

"  By  Order  of  the  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor, 

"  J.    ECKFORD 

'•'  (Act.  Sec.)." 


378  JAVA 

Trouble  at  Native  Court  of  Djockjakarta. — The  Sultan  of 
Djockjakarta  was  becoming  more  and  more  impossible^ ; 
he  was  bidding  practically  open  defiance  to  John  Crawfnrd, 
the  British  Eesident.  When  he  heard  of  the  British  troops 
being  occupied  on  the  Palembang  Expedition,  not  knowing 
anything  about  the  number  employed,  but  having  heard  of 
the  great  power  of  the  Borang  forts,  which  would  need 
thousands  of  men  to  capture  them,  the  Sultan  very  naturally 
concluded  that  the  present  time  was  a  favourable  moment 
to   expel  the  European  power  from   Java.     He   formed, 

'  In  September,  1811,  the  ex-Sultan  of  Java  resumed  the  government  at 
Djockjakarta,  putting  to  death  his  first  minister  and  the  latter's  father  for 
opposing  his  wishes.  The  following  is  taken  from  a  despatch  by  Raffles  to 
the  Resident  there  : — 

"  The  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor  T.  S.  Raffles  to  Resident  John 
Crawfurd  at  Djockjakarta. 
"  You  will  also  inform  the  Sultan  and  Regent  jointly  that  the  assumption 
of  authority  by  the  former  is  in  direct  opposition  to  his  bond  or  declaration 
of  3l8t  December,  1810,  but  this  assumption  cannot  be  admitted  by  the 
British  Government,  and  that  in  conformity  to  the  said  deed  you  are  now 
instructed  to  address  the  Regent  only  as  holding  the  chief  authority  in 
Djockjakarta.  You  wiU  in  consequence  address  the  Regent  in  all  future 
communications  that  you  may  have  with  the  Court.  That  after  the  Sultan 
and  Regent  have  jointly  sent  their  Ambassadors  to  pay  homage  as  directed, 
the  Sultan  should  without  delay  address  to  me  a  letter  explaining  by  the 
best  means  in  his  power  the  circumstances  which  led  to  the  assumption  of 
the  Government  .  .  .  acknowledging  his  errors  and  expressing  regrets 
.  .  .  ;  further  that  the  Sultan  should,  as  a  proof  of  his  sincerity,  resign  of 
himself  the  throne  to  the  Regent,  stating  in  his  letter  that  he  had  done  so 
in  order  that  the  British  Government  might  make  such  arrangements  for 
Djockjakarta  as  may  be  deemed  most  advisable.  On  the  above  conditions 
I  have  intimated  to  Notto  Kosomo  (Natoe  Koesoema)  that  the  Sultan  may 
possibly  be  again  received  into  favour  and  restored  to  the  throne.  The 
letter  to  be  signed  by  the  Sultan  must  be  dictated  by  you,  and  you  will  be 
careful  to  express  it  in  such  terms  as  may  adequately  answer  the  purposes 
of  atonement  intended.  The  letter  should  contain  the  best  excuse  for  his 
conduct  that  can  be  adduced.  The  above  will,  in  my  opinion,  be  sufficient 
atonement  on  the  part  of  the  Sultan  and  a  justification  for  my  again  placing 
him  in  power. 

"  It  must  be  laid  down  as  a  principle  in  all  our  proceedings  with  the 
Native  Courts  that  in  no  case  we  must  demand  what  we  cannot  enforce  in 
case  of  refusal. 

"  Samarang,  15th  December,  1811." 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     379 

therefore,  a  general  confederacy  of  all  the  native  courts, 
constituting,  so  to  say,  the  strength  of  Java,  of  which  he 
was  the  legitimate  head.  Even  the  well-known  animosity 
which  existed  between  the  Emperor  of  Solo^  and  the  Sultan 
of  Djockjakarta  was  on  this  occasion  surmounted,  and  all 
family  feuds  were  buried,  the  chiefs  combining  their  forces 
to  effect  the  destruction  of  the  English,  as  well  as  of  all  the 
Dutch  colonists  settled  along  a  coast  line  of  seven  hundred 
miles. 

The  magnitude  of  the  threatened  danger  called  for  prompt 
and  vigorous  action.  The  troops  from  Palembang,  although 
ordered  to  Samarang,  were  obliged  to  proceed  there  by  way 
of  Banca  and  Borneo,  where  stores  had  to  be  landed. 

Gillespie,  however,  had  arrived,  and,  matters  now  coming 
to  a  crisis.  Raffles  decided  to  move,  with  such  military  force 
as  could  be  collected,  to  break  at  once  the  chain  of  com- 
bination, which  if  allowed  to  increase  and  strengthen  would 
very  likely  prove  the  entire  ruin  of  the  European  settlements 
in  the  East. 

The  Lieutenant-Governor  Proceeds  to  Djockjakarta. — Raffles 
left  Samarang  with  Gillespie  on  the  14th  June,  1812,  arrived 
at  Klatten  on  the  16th  June,  and  at  Djockjakarta  on  the 
evening  of  the  17th.  On  the  18th  the  Sultan,  who  had  been 
busy  preparing  for  active  operations,  sent  out  strong  bodies 
of  horsemen  to  cut  off  the  communication  in  the  rear  of  the 
English  by  burning  and  destroying  all  the  bridges  and  laying 
waste  the  country.  Gillespie,  on  hearing  this,  proceeded 
with  fifty  dragoons  to  reconnoitre,  and  after  several  detours 
fell  in  with  a  large  body  of  the  Sultan's  horse.  As  offensive 
measures  had  not  yet  finally  been  decided  upon,  Gillespie  did 
not  charge  them,  as  he  would  have  wished,  but  through  the 
Resident,  Crawfurd,  tried  to  induce  them  to  return  peaceably 
to  their  homes  in  the  kraton.  To  all  solicitations  they  paid 
no  regard,  even  throwing  stones  from  slings,  and  at  last  their 

*  Soerakarta. 


380  JAVA 

spears,  by  which  a  sergeant  and  four  dragoons  were 
wounded. 

Hostilities  between  the  English  and  the  Sultan  of  Djockja- 
karta  begin. — They  were  thus  the  first  to  provoke  hostihties, 
which  ended  in  the  dragoons  cutting  their  way  through  the 
surrounding  multitudes  and  wholly  dispersing  them.  The 
dragoons  only  lost  one  man  killed. 

The  Lieutenant-Governor,  still  anxious  to  avoid  blood- 
shed, sent  a  final  communication,  amicably  couched,  by 
messenger  to  the  Sultan ;  but  it  fell  on  deaf  ears,  the 
arrogant  chief,  feeling  secure  behind  his  large  force  and 
his    strong   fortifications,   returning   the   messenger   with 

insults. 

The  Lieutenant-Governor  now  saw  clearly  that  the  only 
way  to  bring  the  recalcitrant  monarch  to  his  senses  was 
by  a  battle,  further  delay  only  increasing  his  power,  and 
adding  to  his  insolence  and  the  consequent  injury  to  the 
colony. 

The  Lieutenant-Governor  communicated  his  views  to  the 
Commander  of  the  Forces  and  requested  him  to  prepare  for 
instant  battle. 

The  troops  collected  were  as  follows  : — 

A  Detachment  14th  Regiment. 

A  Detachment  Bengal  Light  Infantry. 

3rd  Volunteer  BattaKon  Bengal  Infantry. 

Two  troops  22nd  Dragoons. 

Artillery. 

A  further  force,  with  a  large  supply  of  ordnance,  was 
expected  at  any  moment,  under  the  orders  of  Colonel 
McLeod. 

At  Djockjakarta  the  Dutch  had  already  built  a  fort  during 
a  more  peaceful  time,  and  it  was  so  constructed  that  the 
kraton,  or  palace  of  the  Sultan,  was  within  reach  of  its  guns. 

The  English  Fort  now  O'pens  Fire  on  the  Kraton. — The  fort 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     381 

now  opened  fire  on  the  kraton,  to  which  the  Sultan's  batteries 
there  immediately  replied. 

The  kraton  was  three  miles  in  circumference,  surrounded 
by  a  broad  ditch  with  drawbridges,  and  a  strong  rampart, 
broad  and  high,  with  bastions,  and  defended  by  one  hundred 
cannon.  Inside  it  were  numerous  squares  and  courtyards, 
enclosed  with  high  walls,  all  very  strong  in  themselves  and 
highly  defensible.  At  this  time  the  principal  square  in 
front  had  a  double  row  of  cannon  facing  the  entrance, 
besides  which  it  was  flanked  with  newly-erected  batteries. 
Seventeen  thousand  regular  troops  manned  these  works, 
while  an  armed  population  of  more  than  one  hundred  thou- 
sand surrounded  the  exterior  kampongs  (villages)  for  miles, 
and  occupied  the  walls  and  various  fastnesses  along  the  sides 
of  the  different  roads  leading  to  the  kraton. 

Soon  after  firing  had  begun  one  of  the  powder  magazines 
of  the  enemy  blew  up,  and  shortly  after  a  similar  accident 
happened  on  the  English  side,  several  officers  and  artillery 
soldiers  being  burned,  some  severely  ;  amongst  these  were 
Lieutenant  Young,  Brigadier-Major,  and  Lieutenant  Hunter, 
of  the  Bengal  service  ;  Captain  Teesdale  of  the  Royal  Navy, 
who  volunteered  his  services,  was  wounded  by  this  occur- 
rence. This  explosion  set  fire  to  one  of  the  fort  buildings, 
but  it  was  soon  extinguished,  and  the  bombardment  of  the 
kraton  continued,  under  cover  of  which  parties  began  to 
scour  the  kampongs  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  palace.  This 
kept  the  Sultan's  troops  in  play,  and  prevented  their  cutting 
off  the  rear  of  the  British  troops  or  harassing  the  detachment 
of  Colonel  McLeod,  which  was  hourly  expected  and  anxiously 
awaited  ;  it  had  left  Salatiga  for  Djockjakarta  by  way  of 
Bojolah. 

As  evening  was  drawing  near  the  Sultan  sent  out  a  flag  of 
truce  under  an  escort  of  some  thousands,  to  demand  the 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  British  garrison.  He  was 
apparently  under  the  impression,  seeing  that  no  progress 


382  JAVA 

had  been  made,  that  he  was  really  victorious  ;  and  in  an 
arrogant  exultation  arising  from  his  immense  superiority 
in  numbers,  presumed  he  could  now  crush  his  enemy  at 
any  moment.  No  reply  was  vouchsafed  to  the  Sultan's 
insult. 

Major  Dalton,  with  a  part  of  his  Bengal  Light  Infantry, 
who  occupied  part  of  the  Dutch  town  between  the  port  and 
the  kraton,  was  unsuccessfully  attacked  four  times  during 
the  night. 

The  enemy,  hearing  of  the  momentarily  expected  arrival 
of  reinforcements  under  McLeod,  began  destroying  all  the 
bridges  and  preparing  obstacles  for  them. 

The  dragoons  were  sent  to  keep  the  way  open,  and  in  the 
evening,  under  Lieutenant  Hale,  of  the  22nd  Regiment, 
were  ordered  to  force  their  way  through  to  McLeod  and  ask 
him  to  hasten  along.  The  country  swarmed  with  the 
enemy  ;  not  even  a  native  could  pass  through  unseen  or 
escape  being  murdered  ;  in  fact  McLeod  had  already  sent 
one  with  a  message  to  Gillespie,  but  the  message  never 
reached  him. 

Colonel  McLeod,  still  wishing  to  communicate,  offered  a 
reward  to  any  man  who  would  carry  an  order  to  Captain 
Byers,  commanding  a  detachment  of  the  Royal  Artillery, 
who  was  a  day's  march  in  his  rear.  John  O'Brien,  a  private 
in  the  Madras  Horse  Artillery,  offered  to  undertake  this 
perilous  task. 

He  galloped  as  hard  as  his  horse  would  carry  him  right 
through  the  enemy's  camps  and  returned  unscathed.  For 
this  he  received  public  thanks  and  a  gold  medal. 

The  party  of  dragoons  from  Djockjakarta  were  soon 
attacked  from  all  sides,  the  enemy  presenting  an  impene- 
trable wall  of  spears.  Lieutenant  Hale  was  wounded,  and 
narrowly  escaped  being  speared  to  the  ground,  a  fate  which 
happened  to  six  of  the  dragoons,  who  were  found  next  day 
mangled  in  a  most  barbarous  manner. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     383 

On   the   19th  June  the  troops  under  Colonel  McLeod 

reached  headquarters,  consisting  of  : — 

A  detachment  of  Royal  Artillery. 

Grenadiers  of  59th  Regiment. 

Flank  companies  and  rifle  company  of  78th  Regiment. 

A  troop  of  Hussars. 

A  detachment  of  Madras  Horse  Artillery. 

The  long  forced  marches  of  these  troops  and  their  exposure 

to  the  sun  had  completely  exhausted  them. 

The  kampongs  round  the  kraton  were  now  set  fire  to  and 

the  enemy  burned  out ;   meanwhile  the  guns  were  pouring 

shot  into  the  palace  itself. 

In  the  evening  Gillespie  ordered  all  the  troops,  both 

cavalry  and  infantry,  into  the  fort,  with  a  view  to  allowing 

the  enemy  to  think  that  no  serious  attack  on  the  kraton 

was  contemplated. 

The  Sultan  was  now  more  than  ever  convinced  that  he 

held  the  Enghsh  in  his  hand  and  that  they  were  afraid  of 

his  strength. 

The  troops  remained  inside  the  fort,  but  the  bombardment 

continued  to  harass  and  weary  the  kraton.     This  went  on 

until  3  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  20th  June,  when 

Gillespie  ordered  the  firing  to  cease.    His  secret  was  well 

kept ;  only  the  leaders  knew  that  the  kraton,  this  formidable 

fortification,    defended    by    men    from    the    neighbouring 

villages  numbering  twenty  to  fifty  thousand,  some  say  even 

one  hundred  thousand  men,  was  to  be  assaulted.     The  task 

was  a  heavy  one  and  its  aspect  appalling.     Gillespie  was 

playing  his  last  card,  but  the  stake  at  issue  was  the  very 

existence  of  the  British  force  ;   the  fate  of  the  whole  colony 

depended  on  the  result. 

The  Island  of  Java  in  a  State  of  Suspense. — At  Bantam, 

Cheribon,  Sourabaya,  and  other  places  hundreds  of  thousands 

were  willing  to  break  loose  against  the  colonists  at  the 

Sultan's  signal,  which  itself  depended  on  the  British  garrison 

at  Djockjakarta.     The  danger  was  no  imaginary  one  ;   the 


384  JAVA 

Sepoys  at  Sourabaya  in  their  barracks  had  been  fired  upon, 
and  a  fire  of  musketry  opened  from  the  Malay  town  into  the 
European  quarter. 

The  Town  of  Sourabaya  saved  from  being  Sacked  by  the 
Prompt  Action  of  the  English  Commanding  Officer. — The 
Dutch  inhabitants  there  shut  themselves  up  in  their  houses, 
expecting  every  moment  to  be  massacred,  but  the  troops 
stationed  at  Sourabaya  were  put  immediately  under  arms 
and  paraded  under  the  commanding  officer,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Eraser,  of  the  78th  Eegiment,  through  whose 
vigilance  and  strong  action  the  trouble  was  immediately 
suppressed.  The  following  day,  on  an  inquiry  being  made 
into  this  affair,  it  appeared  that  the  rebellion  could  be 
traced  to  a  priest,  who  had  dreamed  of  seeing  two  large 
eagles,  a  black  and  a  white,  fighting  in  the  sky,  and  that  after 
a  long  fight  the  white  one  was  torn  to  pieces.  The  natives 
understood  the  allusion,  all  eyes  being  then  fixed  on  Djockja- 
karta,  and  tried  to  anticipate  events. 

Gillespie  and  Eaffles  were  meanwhile  discussing  matters 
in  the  fort ;  they  reahsed  the  seriousness  of  affairs,  which 
was  enough  to  daunt  the  bravest  mind.  Baffles,  however, 
appeared  as  calm  and  collected  as  ever,  with  not  a  shadow 
on  his  open  countenance  ;  while  Gillespie  was  concentrating 
his  thoughts  on  his  own  comprehensive,  clear,  and  well-laid 
plans  for  storming  the  fort. 

The  English  Attack  the  Kraton  of  Djockjakarta. — A  column 
under  Lieutenant- Colonel  Dewar,  with  a  part  of  the  Bengal 
Light  Infantry,  a  volunteer  battalion,  and  Prince  Prang 
Wedona's  corps,  proceeded  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  by  a 
long  and  circuitous  route  to  dislodge  a  strong  body  of 
natives  posted  outside,  southward  of  the  kraton,  after  which 
they  were  to  try  and  force  the  South  Gate,  while  at  the 
North  Gate  an  attack  was  to  be  made  under  Major  Grant. 

A  column  under  Lieutenant- Colonel  Watson,  with  a  part 
of  the  14th  Begiment  and  a  part  of  the  Bengal   Light 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     385 

Infantry,  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  McLeod's  colainn  of 
grenadiers  of  the  59th  Eegiment,  flank  companies  and  the 
rifle  company  of  the  78th  Eegiment,  composed  the  main 
attack. 

This  column,  headed  by  the  brave  grenadiers  under 
Captain  Johnstone,  rushed  the  ditch  under  a  shower  of 
grape  and  drove  the  enemy  from  their  guns.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Watson  now  hurried  them  on  to  the  top  of  the 
ramparts,  and  rushed  for  the  Prince's  Gate,  while  a 
party  of  Sepoys  crossed  the  ditch  at  the  angle  of  the 
bastion  first  attacked,  w4iich  had  now  been  blown  up  by 
an  explosion  of  the  powder  magazine  below.  After- 
wards these  passed  along  to  the  bottom  of  the  rampart 
and  let  down  the  drawbridge,  enabling  McLeod's  column 
to  cross  over. 

The  Prince's  Gate,  being  very  strongly  barricaded,  was 
with  difficulty  blown  open,  but  in  the  meantime  the 
troops,  having  cleared  the  ditch  over  the  drawbridge, 
climbed  upon  one  another's  shoulders  through  the  em- 
brasures and,  meeting  Watson's  column,  swept  the  ram- 
parts clear. 

All  this  time  the  fort  was  pouring  shot  and  shell  into  the 
centre  of  the  kraton. 

The  fighting  became  desperate.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Dewar's  colunm  now  came  up  ;  he  had  defeated  the  enemy 
badly  in  the  suburbs  and  killed  Toomoogong  Senoot  Dinin- 
grat,  the  Sultan's  chief  adviser,  and  the  instigator  of  every 
plot  against  the  English. 

The  Kraton  Captured. — With  fixed  bayonets  the  men  now 
swept  through  fort  after  fort  hke  a  whirlwind,  hand-to-hand 
encounters  taking  place  every  minute.  Gillespie  now 
secured  ah  the  main  ways  out  of  the  kraton,  holding  them 
with  artillery  and  cutting  off  the  fugitives,  who  were 
slaughtered  by  the  thousand.  His  principal  object  was, 
however,  to  see  the  Sultan  did  not  escape. 

J. — VOL.    I.  CO 


386  JAVA 

The  Sultan  of  Djockjakarta  Prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the 
English. — To  this  course  of  action  may  be  attributed  the 
complete  success  of  the  operations,  for  the  Sultan,  finding 
escape  impossible,  gave  himself  up. 

The  Crown  Prince  also  Prisoner. — The  hereditary  prince 
also  threw  himself  on  the  mercy  of  the  English. 

The  enemy,  however,  were  not  yet  beaten,  and  the 
western  bastion  still  held  out ;  but  as  soon  as  it  was  known 
that  the  Sultan  was  a  prisoner  they  lost  hope  and  were 
driven  out  of  this  last  stronghold. 

The  fortifications  being  now  cleared  of  the  enemy,  the 
mosque  on  the  outside  of  the  fort,  which  was  their  last  refuge, 
had  now  to  be  cleared.  A  brisk  fire  was  kept  up  over  the 
walls  and  through  the  apertures.  Here  Gillespie  was 
wounded  in  the  arm  by  a  shot  from  a  blunderbuss.  Two 
horse  artillery  guns  opened  fire  on  the  mosque  and  kept  it 
up  for  fully  three  hours  before  it  gave  in.  This  ended  the 
battle. 

The  loss  of  the  English  was  one  hundred  killed  and 
wounded.  Thus  rather  less  than  one  thousand  men  defeated 
a  hundred  times  their  number  ;  but  the  men  had  been 
thoroughly  impressed  beforehand  that  it  was  a  case  of 
death  or  victory. 

Sultan  of  Djockjakarta  Banished. — The  old  Sultan  was 
banished  at  once  to  Penang,  the  hereditary  prince  mounting 
the  throne  as  Paku  Bavana  III. 

The  Emperor  of  Solo,  astonished  at  the  result  of  the  fight, 
now  readily  acceded  to  all  the  Lieutenant-Governor's 
proposals,  to  which  before  he  had  refused  to  listen,  and 
his  example  was  followed  by  all  the  native  princes  in  the 
island. 

Bagoos  Bang  In,  the  Bebel  Chieftain,  Captured. — Bagoos 
Bang  In,  the  so-called  Sultan  of  Indramayoe,  the  well-known 
rebel  chieftain,  after  having  eluded  pursuit  for  a  number  of 
years,  was  captured  on  the  28th  June,  together  with  his 


luKT    JUANA,    1811. 


FOKT    DAMACK    (dEMAK),    1811.       (tHE    BRITISH    FLAG    IS    KLYING.) 


BRITISH    OCCUPATIOX,    1811    TO    1816     387 

nephew,  Bagoos  Manoch,  and  his  uncle  Griessen,  otherwise 
Sidja  Djuda  ;  and  on  the  2oth  June  a  party  under  the  noted 
Naireen  was  also  defeated.  Thus  peace  and  tranquilhtj^ 
were  now  restored,  British  supremacy  was  estabhshed  on  a 
solid  basis  throughout  the  whole  island,  and  Raffles  was 
able  to  boast  in  a  despatch  to  the  Governor-General,  Lord 
Minto,  that  at  last  a  European  Power  for  the  first  time  was 
absolute^  paramount  in  Java. 

The  population  was  quite  stunned  by  the  result  of  the 
short  war,  while  the  pangerans,  or  princes,  were  astonished 
and  amazed  at  the  tmii  affairs  had  taken,  one  which  thev 
had  not  for  one  single  moment  anticipated  or  even  believed 
possible.^ 

The  following  is  the  return  of  killed  and  wounded  of  the 

forces  employed  in  the  capture  of  Djockjakarta  by  assault, 

20th  June,  1812  :— 

Killed. 


His  Majesty's  22nd  Dragoons  . 
His  Majesty's  14th  Regiment  . 
His  Majesty's  78th  Regiment  . 
Light  Infantry  Battalion 
Djyang  Sekars 

8  rank  and  file 

8         ,,          ,, 

3         ,,          ,, 
tJ         J)          >> 

Total  kiUed   . 

.     23 

5>                        )> 

Wounded. 

Staff  :   Colonel  Gillespie,  Commander  of  the  Forces. 
Horse  Artillery,  2  rank  and  file. 

1  In  the  old  British  chronological  table  the  following  entry  appears  : — 

"  June  29th,  1812. 

"  The  British  march  against  the  Sultan  of  Java,  and  declaring  war  against 
him  storm  his  fortified  palace  with  less  than  one  thousand  men,  and  take  it 
without  diflficulty,  though  defended  by  more  than  eight  thousand  (inside 
the  craton). 

"  The  Sultan  is  made  prisoner  and  his  son  placed  on  the  throne  by  the 
title  of  Mangku  Buvano  the  Third. 

"  The  Susunun  and  Sultan  of  Java  cede  to  the  British  Government  the 
provinces  of  Kadu,t  Blora,  Jipang,  Japan  and  Garobogan." 


The  territorial  revenue  of  Kadu  (Kedoe)  in  1812  was  600,000  rupees. 

C  C   2 


888 


JAVA 


Bengal  Artillery,    Major    Butler    (slightly) ;      1    drummer, 
11  rank  and  file. 

22nd  Dragoons,  Lieutenant  Hale  (severely)  ;    12  rank  and 
file. 

His  Majesty's  14tli  Regiment,  Lieutenant  McLean  (severely, 
since  dead)  ;  30  rank  and  file. 

His     Majesty's     78th     Regiment,     Lieutenant     Robertson 
(slightly)  ;  3  rank  and  file. 

His  Majesty's  89th  Regiment,  Lieutenant  Young,  Brigade- 
Major. 

Light  Lifantry  Battahon,  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Paul  (see  note) ; 
7  rank  and  file. 

Third  Bengal  Volunteer  Battahon,  2  rank  and  file. 

Fourth  Bengal  Volunteer  Battahon,  Lieutenant  Hunter. 

Ambojoiese,  1  havildar. 

Royal  Navy,  Captain  Teesdale. 

Total  wounded     .         .     76 


Grand  total 


99 


N.B. — Of  Prince  Prang  Wedono's^  and  Prince  Nata  Koesama's^ 
corps  the  killed  and  wounded  are  not  included.^ 

List   of    Ordnance    captured    on    the    Fortifications    of 
Djockjakarta,  June  20th,  1812. 


Brass. 

Brass. 

Pounders. 

Pounders. 

Four. 

Three. 

Two. 

Swivels. 

Eigh- 
teen. 

Twelve. 

Nine. 

Six. 

Four. 

Three.   Two. 

One. 

Total. 

2 

3 

4 

18 

8 

7 

3 

15          26 

1          3 

2 

92 

With  a  considerable  quantity  of  powder,   ammunition,   and 
shells. 


1  Prince  (Pangeran)  Prang  Wedono  was  rewarded  with  lands  formerly 
belonging  to  the  Emperor  of  Solo. 

^  Nata  Koesama  was  given  lands  in  the  district  of  Grobogan,  formerly 
belonging  to  the  Sultan  of  Djockjakarta. 

^  Some  time  before  this  war  broke  out  the  following  General  Orders  were 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     389 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  General  Orders  by 
the  Commander  of  the  Forces  : — 

"  Headquarters,  Djockjakarta,  June  21st,  1812. 

"  The  Commander  of  the  Forces  congratulates  the  troops  he 
had  the  honour  personally  to  command  upon  the  late  glorious 
results  of  the  arduous  and  honourable  enterprize. 

"  Their  remarkable  steadiness  and  disciphne  shall  be  brought 
to  the  notice  of  higher  authority,  and  it  will  be  the  duty  of 
Colonel  Gillespie  to  obtain  for  this  force  the  approbation  they  have 
so  justly  merited.- 

"  To  Lieutenant-Colonel  Watson,  who  commanded  the  leading 
column,  the  Commander  of  the  Forces  cannot  convey  the  high 
sense  he  entertains  of  his  distinguished  bravery,  and  of  the 
quickness  and  alacrity  with  which  he  conceived  and  executed 
the  attack. 

"  The  animated  style  in  which  Captain  Johnston  and  Lieu- 
tenant Hunter  crossed  the  Ditch,  and  at  the  Head  of  the  14th 
Grenadiers  escaladed  the  ramparts,  under  the  fire  of  the  East 
Bastion,  could  only  be  equalled  by  the  order  and  zeal  of  their 
gallant  followers. 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  McLeod  for  his  prompt  and  decisive  move- 
ment in  forcing  the  passage  to  the  Prince's  Gate  and  supporting 
the  leading  column  was  equally  daring  and  meritorious. 

"  The  long  detour  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dewar  towards  the 
Southern  Gate,  and  his  well-timed  entrance  through  that  passage 
and  spirited  assault. 

"  It  is  right  also  to  specify  Captain  Leys  and  part  of  the  Light 

issued  in  the   Government   Gazette   regarding   Prince  Prang   Wedono's 
Legion  : — 

"  General  Orders  of  the  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor  in  Council, 
Batavia,  13th  February,  1812. 

The  Legion  of  Prince  Prang  Wedono  to  consist  of — 

Horse  Artillery   ......       50  men 

Cavalry 200    „ 

Sharp  Shooters  of  Light  Infantry  .  .     100    „ 

Infantry  of  the  Line    .....     800    „ 

1150    „ 

With  two  three-pounders  Horse  Artillery  complete. 

The  Prince  Prang  Wedono  to  be  Colonel-Commandant,  and  native 

officers  to  be  appointed  for  his  family. 
Lieutenant  J.  H.  Paul  to  be  Adjutant  of  the  Legion,  with  a  special 

moiety  of  one  hundred  and  thirty -two  rupees  pei  month." 


390  JAVA 

Infantry  Battalion  who  covered  the  Ditch  at  a  fordable  part, 
and  chmbed  to  an  embrasure  on  each  other's  shoulders.^ 

"It  is  also  just  to  mention  the  conduct  of  Major  Forbes,  who 
attacked  the  right  of  the  Sultan's  square,  and  detached  Lieutenant 
Douglas  with  a  smaU  party  of  His  Majesty's  78th  Regiment  to 
cover  the  guns  that  were  directed  with  so  much  spirit  and  effect 
by  Lieutenant  Cameron,  of  the  Bengal  ArtiUery. 

"  It  would  also  be  wrong  not  mentioning  the  spirited  conduct  of 
Major  Dalton  and  his  battalion,  who  scoured  the  ramparts  to  the 
left,  and  admitted  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dewar  at  the  South  Gate 
after  preserving  the  life  of  the  Crown  Prince  [or  Hereditary  Prince]. 

"  It  appears  that  Lieutenant  Douglas  had  the  honour  of 
capturing  the  person  of  the  Sultan, 

"  Major  Butler  and  the  Foot  Artillery, 

"  Captain  Byers  and  the  Royal  Artillery, 

"  Captain  Rudyerd  and  the  Horse  Artillery, 

"  and  Lieutenant  Dudley  and  the  Hussars 
were  all  conspicuous  for  the  same  bravery. 

"  Captain  Colebrook,  of  the  Royal  Artillery,  Captain  Byers  and 
Lieutenant  Black  all  rendered  effectual  assistance  to  Colonel 
McLeod  by  blowing  open  the  Prince's  Gate  with  one  of  the  Horse 
Artillery  guns. 

"  It  now  remains  for  the  Commander  of  the  Forces  to  particu- 
larize instances  of  personal  bravery  and  intrepidity  ;  and  amongst 
these  may  be  classed  the  conduct  of  Lieutenant  HiU,  of  His 
Majesty's  14th  Regiment,  who  reconnoitred  the  Kraton,  and 
ascertained  the  depth  of  water  in  the  Ditch,  and  furnished  a  most 
correct  report. 

"  The  behaviour  of  this  officer  will  be  brought  to  the  knowledge 
of  his  Excellency  the  Commander-in-Chief  m  Lidia,  where  just 
claims  to  distinction  are  never  disregarded. 

''It  is  also  reported  to  the  Commander  of  Forces  that  the 
conduct  of  Private  John  O'Brien,  of  the  Horse  Artillery,  was 
particularly  conspicuous,  in  having  performed  an  important 
point  of  duty  under  circumstances  of  great  personal  hazard. 

"  The  Commander  of  Forces  must  also  testify  to  the  activity 
and  exertions  manifested  by  Captain  Dawes,  and  the  officers  and 
men  of  His  Majesty's  22nd  Dragoons. 

1  Three  Sepoys,  after  crossing  tlie  ditch,  passed  rapidly  along  the  Berm, 
and  let  down  the  drawbridge  at  the  Prince's  Gate  for  Colonel  McLeod' b 
column. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     391 

"  Also  of  Major  Grant,  of  the  4tli  Volunteer  Battalion. 

"  The  Commander  of  the  Forces  also  performs  a  pleasing  task 
in  recognising  the  valuable  services  of 

"  Major  Butler,  Commanding  the  Artillery  ; 

"  Major  Butler,  Deputy-Adjut ant-General  ; 

"  Major  Thorn,  Deputy-Quartermaster-General ; 

"  Captain  Hanson,  JMihtary  Secretary  ; 

"  Captains  Parsons  and  Taylor,  Aides-de-Camp  ; 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mackenzie,  of  the  Engineers  ; 

"  Lieutenants  Harris  and  Baker,  of  the  Bengal  Army  ; 

"  Majors  Campbell  and  Johnson  ; 

"  Captains  Jones  and  Bethune,  also  the  Officers  of  the  Honour- 
able the  Lieutenant-Governor's  Staff. 

"  The  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Hector  McLean,  of  His  Majesty's 
14th  Rifle  Company,  of  Lieutenant  Robinson,  of  His  Majesty's 
78th  Regiment,  and  of  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Paul,  of  the  Bengal 
Native  Infantry,  has  also  been  reported  zealous  and  meritorious. 
They  were  wounded  in  the  assault  [see  note],  and  although  the 
Commander  of  the  Forces  cannot  help  deploring  the  loss,  however 
small,  that  we  have  sustained  during  the  progress  of  the  service, 
he  cannot  avoid  reverting  to  the  ardour  and  rapidity  of  the 
attack  which  ensured  to  the  gallant  troops  a  most  complete 
victory,  and  lessened  those  bitter  feelings  of  regret  which  the 
loss  of  a  brother  soldier  must  always  produce. 

"  Russa  Khan  Havildar,  of  the  4th  Volunteer  Battahon,  and 
Marwam  Sing,  Sepoy  in  the  Light  Infantry  Battahon,  are  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Jamidars  :  and  Roop  Maran  Sing,  of  the  Light 
Infantry  Battahon,  is  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Havildar  for 
their  distinguished  and  conspicuous  gallantry.  These  appoint- 
ments are  to  be  considered  as  having  taken  place  during  the 
action,  and  they  will  also  be  subject  to  the  confirmation  of 
Government. 

"  The  exertions  and  assistance  that  were  afforded  by  Mr.  Craw- 
furd.  Resident,   Mr.   Robinson,^   IVIr.   Deans,^  and  Mr.   Hardy  ^ 

1  William  Eobinson.  In  1813  made  member  of  Revenue  Committee, 
Batavia  ;  second  commissioner  Court  of  Requests  ;  sub-treasurer  of  Pay- 
master's Department  and  collector  of  Customs.  At  the  end  of  1813  sent 
to  Palembang  temporarily  as  Resident.  He  died  at  Batavia,  the  22nd  of 
June,  1815. 

2  John  Deans.      Later  head  of  Deans,  Scott  and  Co. 

3  John   Hardy.     Made,   in  1813,  commissioner  of  Court   of  Requests, 


892  JAVA 

shall  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Honourable  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor. 

(Signed)     *'  Richard  Butler 

"  (Deputy- Adjutant-General)."  ^ 

The  Lieutenant-Governor,  happy  and  delighted  with  the 
results  of  the  battle,  as  well  he  might  be,  returned  to 
Samarang  with  all  speed  to  carry  on  the  government  and 
fulfil  his  arduous  duties. 

As  showing  his  indefatigable  spirit  and  energy,  the 
following  instance  may  be  mentioned. 

The  Lieutenant-Governor  Beturns  to  Samarang  and  Batavia. 
— ^Whilst  at  Samarang  Raffles  heard  one  day  that  a  fleet 
had  arrived  at  Batavia  bound  for  China,  and  decided  to 
proceed  there  at  once  to  receive  his  despatches.  He  left 
that  day  with  Charles  Assey,  the  secretary  to  the  Govern- 
ment, and  his  A.D.C.,  Captain  Travers,  in  a  vessel  called 
the  Hamston,  arriving  at  Batavia  after  a  very  quick  passage 
in  seventy-two  hours.  During  this  time  he  drew  up  a 
Report  of  the  Capture  of  Djockjakarta. 

He  landed  at  7  o'clock  in  the  evening,  when  a  grand  ball 
was  being  given  in  order  to  celebrate  the  anniversary  of  the 
Prince  Regent's  birthday.  Supposed  to  be  at  Samarang,  he 
attended  the  ball,  and  was  the  life  and  spirit  of  the  assembly, 
which  was  composed  of  three  hundred  of  the  Batavia  Slite. 

After  remaining  a  few  days  at  Batavia,  Raffles  returned 
to  Samarang  overland,  to  superintend  the  arrangements 
consequent  upon  the  capture  of  Djockjakarta.     This  done, 

Samarang,  and  magistrate  of  the  town  of  Samarang.  Brother  of  F.  E. 
Hardy,  the  Resident  of  Batavia,  1814,  and  Resident  of  Rembang,  1826, 
where  he  died  shortly  afterwards. 

^  According  to  a  Dutchman  Uving  at  Djockjakarta,  whose  father  was 
present  at  the  battle  at  Djockjakarta,  and  taking  part  in  the  assault  of  the 
kraton,  Lieutenant  Hector  McLean  was  not  wounded  in  the  fighting,  but 
on  the  taking  of  the  palace  was  seen  rushing  towards  the  Sultan's  harem, 
from  which  he  emerged  with  a  ghastly  Jcris  wound.  Whether  Lieutenant 
Robinson's  and  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Paul's  wounds  were  owing  to  the  same 
cause  was  not  stated. 


sfm''^'T^.wmwvt-i'esmi.'^^WVfK^- 


^tev'*? 


FOKT    KAMBAXG,    ISll. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     393 

and  after  obtaining  all  the  local  knowledge  possible  regarding 
Samarang  and  the  surrounding  country,  he  returned  with 
his  family  to  Buitenzorg  at  the  end  of  1812,  where  arrears 
of  public  business  awaited  him. 

Despatches  were  received  shortly  after  from  Lord  Minto, 
the  Governor-General  of  India,  approving  of  all  that  Baffles 
had  done.     The  most  important  reads  as  follows  : — 

"  Government  House,  Calcutta,  15th  December,  1812. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — I  shall  be  impatient  for  the  materials  which 
are  called  for,  because  I  am  anxious  to  dehver  without  reserve, 
or  qualification,  the  very  high  and  favourable  view  I  now  have  of 
that  whole  series  of  measures,  beginning  with  the  expedition  to 
Palembang,  and  ending  with  the  arrangement  of  the  two  courts 
of  Solo  and  Djockjakarta,  connected  and  combined  with  each 
other,  as  those  measures  were.  I  consider  the  result  of  the  latter 
proceeding  as  very  glorious  to  your  administration,  during  the 
short  period  of  which  more  wiU  have  been  accompHshed  for  the 
security  of  the  European  power,  the  tranquiUity  of  the  island, 
and  the  soHd  improvement  of  general  prosperity  and  happiness, 
than  several  centuries  have  been  able  to  perform,  when  the 
superiority  of  European  power  was  exerted,  unencumbered  by 
the  scruples  of  justice  and  good  faith. 

"  Nothing  can  be  more  excellent  than  all  your  arrangements 
in  the  eastern  districts  of  the  island. 

"  With  regard  to  Palembang  and  Banca,  your  latest  reports 
have  enabled  us  to  approve,  without  reservation,  the  arrange- 
ment formed  at  Palembang,  and  the  annexation  of  Banca  to  the 
territories  of  the  East  India  Company,  our  minds  being  satisfied 
upon  the  two  points  of  justice  and  expediency. 

"  The  sovereignty  of  the  Sultan  of  Palembang  in  Banca  is 
placed  beyond  question,  and  leaves  that  dependence  of  Palembang 
indisputably  subject  both  to  the  laws  of  conquest  in  so  just  a 
war  and  to  the  effect  of  cession  from  the  authority  under  which 
it  is  now  held. 

"  Beheve  me  ever,  my  dear  Sir,  most  truly  and  affectionately 
yours, 

"  MiNTO." 

Despatch  Regarding  the  Appointment  of  Fdkoe  Alam. — The 


394  JAVA 

following  is  taken  from  a  despatch  from  the  Resident  of 
Jogjakarta,  Captain  R.  G.  Garnham,  to  the  Honourable  the 
Lieutenant-Governor  : — 

"  The  intention  of  Government  to  appoint  Pangeran  Pakoe 
Alam  regent  to  the  territories  of  Mataram  during  the  minority 
of  his  Highness  the  Sultan,  I  have  received  with  much  anxiety 
and  apprehension.  This  measure,  although,  I  am  inclined  to 
consider  rather  a  provisional  one,  than  the  result  of  a  selection 
founded  on  any  positive  assurance  of  his  unexceptionable  character 
and  conduct. 

"  The  obligation  I  have  to  perform  requires  that  I  should 
definitely  state  for  the  information  of  the  Honourable  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor in  Council  the  character  drawn  by  my  immediate 
predecessor  in  office  here  of  Pangeran  Pakoe  Alam.  '  The 
Pangeran  is  a  man  of  ability  and  acquirement,  but  devoid  of 
sincerity  and  principle  ;  his  ambition  is  great,  and  if  personal 
timidity  did  not  restrain  that  passion,  he  would  most  assuredly 
endeavour  to  give  it  full  scope.  His  deposed  brother  (Sultan 
Sepoeh)  he  cajoled,  flattered,  and  after  every  solemn  pledge  of 
loyalty  and  affection  most  deliberately  betrayed  and  insulted 
him.  His  letters  to  the  Resident  sounded  a  desired  concurrence 
that  might  favour  views  cherished  by  him  of  succeeding  his 
brother  on  the  throne.  His  nephew  the  late  Sultan  (Sultan 
Radja)  he  abused  and  vilified. 

"  '  The  people  also  report  this  Pangeran  to  be  avaricious, 
and  that  those  under  his  immediate  authority  must  trust  to 
the  protection  of  the  Resident  to  prevent  ex  agitation  and  unjust 
practices.' 

"  Where,  then,  after  every  possible  hmitation  such  an  important 
trust  must  devolve  into  the  hands  of  a  Regent,  and  for  such  a 
length  of  minority,  I  would  most  respectfully  submit  to  the 
immediate  notice  and  consignment  of  Government  whether  after 
the  above  statement,  and  founded  on  such  authority,  it  may  be 
the  final  order  of  the  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor  in 
Council  to  place  the  regency  of  Mataram  in  the  hands  of  the 
Pangeran  alluded  to. 

"  Jogjakarta,  24th  November,  1814.     No.  46." 

The  reply  contained  the  following  : — 

"  The  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor  in  Council  does 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     395 

not  deem  it  expedient  to  alter  the  arrangement  made  for  the 
Pangeran  Pakoe  Alam,  for  although  part  of  the  character  given 
him  by  the  late  Resident  may  no  doubt  be  correct,  it  is  on  the 
other  hand  to  be  recollected  that  this  Pangeran  has  claims  on 
this  Government,  not  only  for  the  fidelity  which  he  showed  to 
our  cause  at  the  time  of  the  war  against  the  ex-Sultan  of  Jogja- 
karta, but  also  on  account  of  the  promises  then  held  out  to  him." 

Financial  State  of  Java  during  the  English  Period. — 
RafHes  had  already  begun  to  feel  the  necessity  of  having 
more  cash  in  the  colony.  Until  the  revolution  in  Holland, 
large  sums  of  silver  were  annually  sent  out  to  pay  the 
establishments  and  purchase  the  investments.  The  impor- 
tation, in  fact,  of  bullion  had  been  considerable.  Specie  was 
sent  to  British  India  and  procured  either  a  return  of  silver, 
or  the  proceeds,  by  which  opium,  cloths,  and  the  principal 
importations  required  by  Java  could  be  purchased. 

During  the  years  of  Daendels'  and  Raffles'  administra- 
tions these  advantages  had  been  entirely  lost,  the  only 
supply  of  bullion  being  that  received  by  the  Americans — a 
great  number  of  whom  were  during  this  period  in  the  East 
Indian  Archipelago — to  buy  coffee,  pepper,  and  other 
colonial  produce.  This  supply,  however,  owing  to  the  war 
with  America  and  the  special  Orders  in  Council  regarding 
the  exports  thereto,  was  lost  to  Java  ;  in  the  importation  of 
bullion  for  coffee  alone  nearly  two  millions  of  Spanish 
dollars  per  annum  were  lost.  The  coffee  lay  in  the  godowns 
in  Java,  awaiting  shipment  and  literally  rotting  away  under 
the  influence  of  the  weevil. 

Daendels,  to  rectify  matters,  obtained  forced  and  volun- 
tary loans  from  the  inhabitants,  in  order  to  raise  sufficient 
money  for  the  extraordinary  measures  rendered  necessary 
by  the  defence  of  the  island,  and  four  millions  of  rix  dollars 
and  paper  currency  were  thrown  on  the  market.  When 
Raffles  arrived,  this  same  paper  had  fallen  in  the  market  to 
the  rate  of  6^  rix  dollars  for  1  Spanish  dollar  silver.    Later 


396  JAVA 

on  it  fell  to  12  and  13  for  1,  making  a  difference  of  nearly 
100  per  cent,  in  its  actual  current  value  in  the  market. 

Under  these  circumstances  property  was  very  insecure, 
and  pubhc  confidence  was  shaken. 

The  Sale  of  the  Private  Lands  in  Java  hy  the  English. — 
EafHes  decided,  after  a  full  and  ripe  consideration  of  the 
matter,  to  meet  this  demand  for  money  by  selling  lands  and 
withdrawing  all  the  paper  money  from  circulation. 

The  principle  on  which  this  measure  was  adopted  was  as 
follows  : — 

The  paper  currency  was  a  colonial  debt ;  therefore  the 
loss  from  depreciation  would  naturally  fall  upon  the  colony, 
and  not  on  the  individual  holder  ;  and  the  selling  of  a  portion 
of  the  Crown  domains  in  liquidation,  or  partial  liquidation, 
of  this  public  debt  was  a  perfectly  justifiable  and  legitimate 
action. 

There  was  in  fact  a  precedent ;  for  Marshal  Daendels  in 
1810,  to  raise  ready  cash  for  defence  works,  had  sold  various 
lands,  even  whole  provinces.^  The  Lieutenant-Governor, 
therefore,  caused  the  following  advertisement  to  appear  in 
the  Java  Government  Gazette  : — 

"  Notice  is  hereby  given 

"  That  it  is  the  intention  of  Government  to  dispose  of  a  quantity 
of  lands  in  the  Batavia  Regency,  in  Crawang,  and  in  the  environs 
of  Samarang  and  Sourabaya,  to  individuals. 

"  Buitenzorg,  14th  Nov.,  1812." 

This  notice  was  also  printed  in  Dutch. 

The  following  advertisements  in  this  matter  also  appeared, 
so  that  the  proceedings  were  of  a  quite  public  character, 
although  the  contrary  has  sometimes  been  stated  : — 

Th.  McQuoid. 

"  {Java  Government  Gazette,  \%th  December,  1812.) 
"  Pubhc  notice  is  hereby  given,  that  a  general  description  of 
the  boundaries  of  such  lands  as  the  Government  intends  selUng 

^  See  a  previous  chapter. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     397 

in  the  Batavian  and  Preanger  Regencies  is  now  in  readiness  to 
be  seen  at  the  Office  of  the  Resident  of  Buitenzorg,  and  that  a 
more  minute  description  is  preparing  with  a  map  of  the  Lots,  a 
copy  of  which  will  be  left  at  the  Collector's  Office  in  Batavia  for 
inspection  ten  days  before  the  day  of  sale,  of  which  due  notice 
will  hereafter  be  given. 

"  Th.  McQuoid 
"  (President  of  the  Committee  for  Sale  of  Lands). 
"  Buitenzorg,  10th  December,  1812." 

*'  {Java  Oovernment  Gazette,  \Qth  January,  1813.) 

"  In  the  former  notice  fixing  the  sale  of  lands  in  Crawang  and 
in  the  Batavia  Regencies  for  Monday  the  16th  of  January,  a 
mistake  was  made  in  the  day  ;  and  with  a  view  to  aid  the  intention 
of  purchasers  who  are  desirous  of  a  short  delay  in  the  sale  of  the 
lands,  this  sale  is  now  postponed  until  Monday  the  25th  instant, 
on  which  date  the  lots  which  may  not  have  already  been  sold  by 
private  contract,  will  be  disposed  of  agreeably  to  the  conditions 
published. 

"  A  general  hst  and  description  of  the  lands  may  be  seen  at 
the  Office  of  the  Magistrates  and  of  the  Collector. 

"  By  order  of  the  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor  in 
Council. 

"  T.  McQuoiD 
"  (Resident,  Buitenzorg). 

"  Buitenzorg,  7th  January,  1813." 

The  Lieutenant-Governor  sold  in  1813  the  lands  as 
follows  : — 

Soekaboemi  (which  included  the  districts  of  Goenweng, 

Parang,    Tjimahi,    Tjihenlang,    Pagedangan,    and 

Pagasahan). 
Tjipoetrie. 
Oedjong  Bron. 
Kraioang} 
Tjassem} 
Pamanoekan} 
Kandanghauer. 
Indramogoe  (Westf).^ 

1  These  lands  had  been  hired  out  to  Dutchmen  for  various  periods  by 
the  Dutch  East  India  Company  ever  since  1705. 


398  JAVA 

The  lands  Soekaboemi  and  Tjipoetrie  were  bought  by  the 
Lieutenant-Governor ;  the  former  Governor  of  Java's 
north-east  coast  (Samarang),  Nicolaus  Engelhard  ;  the 
Eesident  of  the  Preanger,  Thomas  McQuoid ;  and  the 
Government  of&cial,  A.  de  Wilde. 

Baffles  was  the  owner  for  one-half,  while  the  three 
others  had  each  a  share  to  the  extent  of  one-sixth  ;  the 
price  paid  was  the  ridiculous  sum  of  58,000  Spanish  dollars. 
The  land  Oedjong  Bron,  which  lay  to  the  north-east  of 
Bandoeng,  was  bought  by  the  above-mentioned  A.  de  Wilde 
for  6,153.56  Spanish  dollars  ;  he  took  it  over,  so  to  speak, 
from  the  family  of  the  first  Dutch  owner,  Swalue. 

The  Pamanoekan  and  Tjassem  or  Tjiassem  lands  were 
bought  by  Mr.  Shrapnell  and  Mr.  Skelton  for  Sir  Charles 
Forbes,  of  Bombay,  whose  relation,  Major  Forbes,  of  the 
■78th  Begiment,  was  now  in  Java,  and  no  doubt  advised  him 
that  the  sales  would  take  place,  or  else  sent  him  a  copy  of 
the  Java  Government  Gazette.  There  were  also  sold  one  or 
two  other  lands  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Batavia,  besides 
a  good  many  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Samarang  and 
Sourabaya  ;  for  a  full  hst  of  these  and  their  purchasers  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  end  of  Chapter  XL,  "  Tow^ns  in 
Java." 

With  the  sale  of  these  lands  the  immediate  pressure  on 
the  finances  of  the  country  was  reheved.  Lord  Minto,  in 
writing  to  Baffles  on  the  matter,  approved  of  his  measures 
very  highly  as  "  an  able  expedient  to  meet  a  case  of  great 
emergency  "  ;  and  of  his  ability  to  form  a  correct  and 
impartial  judgment  there  can  be  no  doubt.  It  was,  in  fact, 
the  only  immediate  expedient  that  could  have  been 
devised  to  support  the  credit  of  the  new  Government, 
especially  at  a  time  when  it  was  important  to  create  a 
favourable  impression  upon  the  population  of  their  change 
of  rulers. 

Trouble  between  the  Lieutenant-Governor  and  the   Com- 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     399 

mander  of  the  Forces. — The  Commander  of  the  Forces, 
Colonel  Gillespie,  and  the  Court  of  Directors  condemned  the 
expedient,  however,  in  no  measured  terms  ;  and  when  full 
particulars  reached  the  latter,  they  qualified  the  same  as 
**  a  ver}^  questionable  proceeding."  Gillespie's  charges  were 
officially  made  and  officially  discussed,  and  there  can  be  no 
doubt,  coming  as  they  did  from  an  officer  whose  high 
military  character  and  services  were  admired  by  every  one 
who  knew  him,  that  they  were  honestly  made.  That  they 
lacked,  however,  proof  in  so  far  as  Eaffles  w^as  concerned 
must  be  allowed  ;  for  although  it  is  clear  that  the  intention 
of  Raffles  was  to  become  a  large  landowner  in  Java  (which 
he  was  quite  entitled  under  the  regulations  to  be),  the  means 
by  which  he  intended  to  become  such,  as  far  as  he  was 
concerned,  were  absolutely  honest,  fair,  straightforward,  and 
legitimate. 

Gillespie  had  a  long  list  of  offences  against  Raffles, 
relating  chiefly  to  the  disposal  of  the  lands  ;  but  his  prin- 
cipal charge  was  that  he  accused  Raffles  of  improper  conduct 
in  purchasing  Government  lands  at  a  lower  price  than  they 
had  been  tendered  for  outside.  This  charge  was  found  to 
be  entirely  false,  no  higher  tenders  having  ever  been  made 
for  the  lands  in  question,  and  Gillespie,  one  of  the  most 
honourable  of  men,  was  moved  to  Calcutta  to  fill  a  high 
staff  appointment,  General  Miles  Nightingale  being  sent  to 
command  the  troops  in  Java  in  his  stead. 

Raffles  wrote  a  full  and  complete  reply  to  all  Gillespie's 
charges  ;  but  although  the  Viceroy  (Lord  Minto)  and  the 
Government  in  India  approved  of  his  explanations,  and 
nominated  him  for  the  Residency  of  Bencoolen  if  Java  was 
returned  to  the  Dutch,  the  Court  of  Directors  only  accepted 
his  explanations  in  silence. 

Pathetic  Letter  from  the  Lieutenant-Governor  to  one  of  the 
Directors  of  the  East  India  Company. — Raffles  further 
supplemented  his  offlcial  letters  by  a  private  one  to  Mr. 


400  JAVA 

W.  B.  Ramsay,  one  of  the  Directors  in  London,  an  extract 
from  which  reads  as  follows  : — 

"  Buitenzorg,  March  21st,  1814. 

"  Without  family  pretensions,  fortune,  or  powerful  friends,  it 
has  been  my  lot  to  obtain  the  high  station  I  now  fill,  and  I  have 
not  been  without  my  due  proportion  of  envy  in  consequence. 
You  are  aware  of  the  differences  which  occurred  between  Major- 
General  Gillespie  and  myself,  and  that  he  in  consequence  applied 
to  be  reheved  of  the  mihtary  command.  Arriving  in  Calcutta, 
after  Lord  Minto  had  left  it,  he  found  the  new  Governor-General 
[and  a  new  CounciP]  unacquainted  with  all  that  had  previously 
passed,  and  succeeded  to  a  certain  extent  in  impressing  him 
favourably  in  his  behalf.^ 

"  He  was  committed  in  the  course  of  some  of  our  differences 
by  assertions  which  he  had  made,  and,  finding  that  he  had 
succeeded  in  turning  the  current  of  pubhc  opinion  a  good  deal 
against  me,  he  has  brought  regular  charges  against  both  my 
administration  and  my  character. 

"  The  whole  are,  I  thank  God,  easily  to  be  repelled,  and  the 
closer  the  investigation,  the  purer  my  conduct  will  appear. 
Lord  Minto  is  fully  aware  of  the  violent  faction  which  has  taken 
up  arms  against  me,  and  will  defend  me  in  England.  In  Lidia  I 
have  a  possession,  and  a  clear  character  to  maintain  it  :  let 
Satan  do  his  worst. 

"  My  enemies  have  said  much,  and  written  much,  but  in  the 
end  truth  and  honesty  must  prevail." 

Death  of  the  Governor-General,  Lord  Minto. — Before  this 
letter  had  reached  London  Lord  Minto  had  breathed  his 
last,  on  the  21st  June,  1814,  a  few  days  after  his  arrival. 

This  unfortunate  occurrence  meant  the  loss  to  Raffles  of 
the  only  man  who  could  have  relieved  the  Court  of  Directors 
of  their  false  impressions  in  regard  to  their  Lieutenant- 
Governor  ;  although  they  w^ere  never  able  to  prove  the 
accusations,  in  fact  they  had  seen  them  disproved  to  an 
extent  which  is  seldom  practicable  in  a  case  of  defence, 

^  These  words  are  inserted  here. 

2  Gillespie  was  killed  in  the  war  in  Nepaxil  in  November,  1814,  during  an 
assaiilt  on  the  small  fort  Kalunga. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     401 

they  still  remained  in  that  sceptical  frame  of  mind  which 
did  no  credit  to  such  a  body  of  public  men. 

Even  General  Nightingale,  after  careful  perusal  of  the 
documents  laid  before  him,  declared  with  a  full  and  firm 
conviction  the  utter  innocence  of  Baffles  of  every  charge 
brought  forward  by  Gillespie.  To  the  Directors,  however, 
this  was  of  no  avail. 

Improved  System  of  Internal  Management  Introduced  hy 
the  English. — Raffles'  last  great  w^ork  was  the  introduction 
of  an  improved  system  of  internal  management  in  Java  and 
the  establishment  of  a  land  rental,  a  measure  which  added 
lustre  to  his  administration,  and  which  was  prepared  dm'ing 
a  period  of  great  anxiety  and  trouble. 

When  he  first  brought  the  proposal  before  the  Council 
and  explained  it,  it  was  received  with  a  cold  and  cautious 
approval. 

Some  of  the  members  spoke  from  long  experience,  and 
with  presumed  knowledge  of  the  native  mind  and  character  ; 
and  there  was  not  a  Hollander  in  the  island  who  believed 
the  plan  could  succeed.  It  was  moreover  generally  thought 
that  any  attempt  to  introduce  it  would  lead  to  serious 
consequences. 

Raffles,  however,  with  a  view  to  the  introduction  of  this 
new  system,  now  personally  visited  each  district,  and 
explained  it  to  all  the  regents  and  chiefs,  well  knowing  that 
they  trusted  him.  Sometimes  he  travelled  sixty  and 
seventy  miles  a  day  in  his  exertions  to  reach  some  destina- 
tion within  a  given  time  ;  and  he  did  not  return  to  Batavia 
until  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  his  new^  measure 
introduced  all  over  the  island  and  proving  a  great  success. 
The  old  system  was  a  vicious  one,  and  gave  no  freedom  to 
an  industrious  population. 

Eventually  Raffles  received  the  full  support  of  Mr. 
Muntinghe  and  Mr.  Craussen  in  the  introduction  of  the  land 
rental  system,  who  made  up  in  every  possible  way  for  the 

J. — VOL.    I.  D    D 


402  JAVA 

coldness  and  alarm  they  had  shown  when  it  was  first 
proposed. 

The  Wife  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor  Dies  at  Buitenzorg 
(1815). — Misfortune  and  anxiety  clouded  Eaffles'  last 
eighteen  months  in  Java.  In  this  time  he  had  the  sorrow 
of  losing  his  wife,  the  friend  who  had  stood  by  him  in  all  his 
troubles.  She  died  at  Buitenzorg  suddenly,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Tanah  Abang  cemetery  at  Batavia.  A  tomb  was 
erected  to  her  memory  in  the  beautiful  gardens  of  the 
Governor- General's  palace  at  Buitenzorg,  just  outside  the 
lane  of  kanari  trees.  When  the  colony  was  restored  to  the 
Dutch,  a  clause  was  inserted  in  the  treaty  which  made  this 
memorial  of  Lady  EafHes  the  lasting  care  of  the  Dutch 
Government,  an  undertaking  which  they  have  faithfully 
kept ;  for  after  a  century  the  tomb  remains  neat,  clean,  and 
cared  for,  lying  peacefully  under  the  delicate  rich  foliage  of 
waving  palms  and  bamboos,  and  making  a  touching  link 
with  the  by-gone  English  rule. 

Java  to  he  Beturned  hy  the  English  to  the  Dutch. — Jiist 
before  the  loss  of  his  wife  Baffles  received  the  news  of  Lord 
Minto's  death,  and,  as  it  were,  to  crown  his  sorrows,  news 
was  brought  that  Java  in  all  likelihood  would  be  returned 
to  the  Dutch.  His  buoyant  spirit  gave  way,  and  for  some 
time  he  lay  seriously  ill.  When  better  he  removed  to 
"  Ciceroa  "  (Tjisereuh). 

Here  he  rose  early,  and  began  business  before  breakfast, 
after  which  he  went  through  the  official  duties  of  the  day  ; 
then  till  4  o'clock,  when  he  dined,  he  occupied  himself  with 
a  party  of  intelligent  native  chiefs  who  Avere  his  guests  ; 
after  dinner  a  walk  for  the  sake  of  his  health,  and  then  until 
he  retired  he  read,  translated,  or  compiled  various  manu- 
scripts. His  mind,  however,  remained  restless,  so  that  his 
health  could  not  improve. 

A  new  English  Lieutenant-Governor,  Fendall,  Appointed. — 
It  was  while  here  that  Baffles  heard  without  any  warning 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     403 

that  John  Fendall  was  on  his  way  to  relieve  him  of  the 
government.  He  proceeded,  therefore,  to  Eyswyck  at  once 
to  prepare  for  his  reception. 

The  British  governorship  of  Java  was  now  about  ending. 
This  "  governorship  "  was,  in  fact,  "  Stamford  Eaffles  "  ; 
without  him  it  would  have  been  nothing.  When  he  arrived 
the  revenue  was  four  million  rupees  ;  now  it  was  more  than 
forty  millions,  and  the  finances  of  the  colony  were  in  such  a 
state  as  they  had  never  been  in  before.  When  it  was  known 
that  Eaffles  was  leaving  Java,  Europeans  and  natives  united 
in  expressing  their  deep  regret  at  his  departure,  and  acknow- 
ledged in  the  warmest  terms  their  gratitude  for  the  benefits 
which  he  had  conferred  upon  them  during  his  administra- 
tion ;  only  the  minority,  a  mean-spirited  few,  were  pleased 
to  lose  him. 

March  26th  (1816). — When  he  left  by  the  ship  Ganges  on 
the  26th  March,  1816,  the  scene  in  the  roads  of  old  Batavia 
was  an  indescribable  one  ;  people  of  every  nation  were 
anxious  to  pay  theh^  respects  and  tribute  to  one  for  whom 
they  entertained  the  most  lively  affection.  The  decks  were 
covered  with  their  offerings  of  fruit  and  flowers.  With  liim 
travelled  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garnham,  Captain  Travers 
(two  of  his  aides-de-camp),  and  Sir  Thomas  Sevestre,  his 
medical  attendant. 

The  high  Dutch  officials  of  to-day  all  recognise  what 
Eaffles  did  for  Java,  and  do  not  hesitate  to  allow  that  his 
policy  was  a  broad  and  thorough  one.  Even  Mr.  van 
Deventer,  not  always  a  favourable  critic  of  Eaffles,  ^mtes 
most  generously  regarding  his  administration,  and  grants 
his  ^^■ide  perception  and  single-hearted  endeavour  to  sound 
the  depths  and  reach  the  core  of  every  measure  he  advocated. 
His  administration  was  in  short  that  of  a  brilliant  statesman, 
and  upheld  the  honour  of  England  in  the  East  Indies  to  no 
small  degree. 

The  new  Lieutenant-Governor  Fendall,  who  took  over 

D    D    2 


404  JAVA 

charge  from  Baffles  on  the  12th  March,  1816,  entered  upon 
duties  which  consisted  more  or  less  in  handing  over  the 
administration  of  Java  and  its  dependencies  to  the  Dutch, 
for  back  to  them  it  was  to  go,  in  spite  of  all  Baffles' 
endeavours  to  prevent  it. 

Java  Returned  to  the  Dutch ;  the  British  Flag  Hauled 
Down. — Shortly  after  his  arrival  Major  Nahuys,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  terms  of  the  Treaty  of  Vienna,  arrived  with 
three  thousand  five  hundred  Dutch  troops,  which  relieved 
the  British  garrisons  all  over  the  island,  and  the  British  flag 
was  hauled  down  everywhere  on  the  19th  August,  1816.^ 

British  Forces  in  Java  (1816). — The  British  forces  at  this 
time  in  the  island  consisted  of  the  following  : — 

His  Majesty's  14th  Regiment,  800  men. 

His  Majesty's  59th  Regiment,  800  men. 

His  Majesty's  78th  Regiment,  800  men. 

Two  troops  22nd  Dragoons. 

A  detachment  Royal  Artillery. 

Two  troops  Hussars. 

Five  battalions  of  Sepoys,  each  800  men. 

Corps  of  native  cavalry. 

A  detachment  Bengal  Artillery. 

Madras  Pioneers. 

Two  regiments  of  Amboynese  and  Javanese,  3,200  men. 

One  Bengal  European  regiment,  350  men. 

There  was  thus  in  all  a  force  of  about  11,000. 

Troubles  between  the  English  and  Dutch  Representatives 
over  the  Return  of  Java. — Of  the  troubles  and  difficulties, 
indignant  letters,  remonstrances,  and  protests  which  arose 
between  the  British  Governor,  Fendall,  and  the  Dutch 
Commissioners,  Baron  van  der  Capellen,  Dr.  C.  T.  Elout, 
and  Mr.  A.  A.  Buyskes,  appointed  to  take  over  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  East  Indies,  nothing  is  to  be  gained  by  here 

1  When  tlie  Dutch  Commissioner  Nahuys  arrived  to  take  over  Java,  John 
Fendall  was  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  Sir  WiUiam  Grant  Keir  Commander 
in-Chief  of  the  Forces,  and  Thomas  Abraham  and  Willem  Jacob  Craussen 
members  of  Council. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     405 

speaking ;  the  end  was  that  England  lost  to  Holland  all 
the  settlements  on  the  outlying  islands  which  she  had 
possessed.  The  Commissioners  were  quite  right  in  fighting 
for  them  ;  the  fault  lay  with  the  English  in  giving  them  up. 

The  Bich  Island  of  Banca  Surrendered  to  the  Dutch  ;  as 
also  the  Rich  Island  of  Billiton  and  the  Settlement  of 
Banjermassin. — Thus  we  see  the  valuable  island  of  Banca 
given  up  in  exchange  for  the  insignificant  town  of  Cochin 
in  India ;  the  island  of  Billiton  and  the  settlement  of 
Banjermassin  given  up  for  no  other  reason  than  that  the 
Dutch  Commissioners  demanded  them.  Instead  of  the 
difficulties  decreasing  they  increased,  and  the  feelings  of  the 
Dutch  Commissioners,  and  of  Fendall,  the  secretary  Assey, 
and  the  other  English  assistants  ran  high. 

Sir  Stamford  Baffles  at  Bencoolen  (1818). — The  Dutch 
believed  that  the  British  were  intent  on  depriving  them  of 
their  territorial  rights  in  the  East ;  whilst  the  British 
authorities — who  now  had  Sir  Stamford  Baffles  as  their 
adviser  at  Bencoolen,  he  having  returned  to  the  East — were 
convinced  that  the  Dutch  intended  to  establish  a  monopoly 
with  a  view  to  shutting  British  trade  and  influence  entirely 
out  of  the  East. 

This  latter  view,  however  much  it  appeared  then  a  likely 
one  from  the  frantic  haste  the  Dutch  showed  in  taking 
back  their  colonies,  and  the  many  regrettable  incidents  and 
incessant  friction  consequently  arising,  cannot  be  admitted. 

The  culminating  point  was  reached  when  Raffles  occupied 
Singapore  on  the  29th  January,  1819. 

The  Dutch  claimed  Singapore  under  a  treaty  with  the 
Sultan  of  Johore,  but  the  British  pointed  out  that  this 
treaty  had  been  made  with  a  usurper,  whereas  the  British 
treaty  had  been  made  with  the  rightful  Sultan.  After 
years  of  struggle  the  Dutch  dropped  their  claim,  for  the 
British,  at  least  here,  had  taken  a  stand  and  meant  to  keep 
to  it. 


406  JAVA 

The  treaty  of  the  13th  August,  1814,  from  the  fact  that 
it  was  probably  hastily  drawn  up,  left  the  door  open  for 
still  further  misunderstanding  between  the  Dutch  and 
British  officials,  there  being  an  entire  lack  of  sympathy  on 
either  side,  the  utmost  jealousy  prevailing — partly  for 
reasons  already  stated  and  partly  on  account  of  the  fact 
that  the  principals  were  ill-suited  to  each  other.  These 
misunderstandings  and  regrettable  incidents  continued  right 
down  to  the  end. 

The  Governments  at  home,  tiring  of  these  incessant 
quarrels,  appointed  plenipotentiaries  to  carry  out  finally 
the  terms  of  the  treaty. 

Final  carrying  out  of  the  Treaty  {Bencoolen  Handed  over  to 
the  Dutch;  Malacca  returned  to  the  English). — The  British 
representatives  were  Mr.  Canning  and  Sir  Charles  Watkin 
Williams  Wynn,  with  Mr.  Valck  and  Mr.  Vagel  acting  for  the 
Dutch  Government.  All  questions  were  now  settled  ;  Ben- 
coolen was  exchanged  for  Malacca  and  Chinsurah,  and  the 
English  agreed  not  to  settle  anywhere  else  in  Sumatra  or 
make  any  treaty  with  any  of  the  native  princes  in  this  island. 

English  Agree  not  to  make  any  Treaties  with  Sumatran 
Princes  or  Settle  anywhere  in  that  Island. — The  British 
plenipotentiaries  withdrew  their  objections  to  the  Dutch 
occupation  of  Billiton  ;  and  the  Dutch  likewise  to  the  British 
occupation  of  Singapore.  The  British  Government  also 
agreed  not  to  establish  any  settlements  on  the  Karimon 
Islands,  or  on  the  islands  of  Battam,  Bintang,  Lingin,  or 
any  other  islands  south  of  Singapore,  which  they  had  some 
right  to  do.^  Thus  the  Dutch  became  the  undisputed 
masters  once  more  of  the  entire  East  Indian  Archipelago 
and  England  of  the  Malay  Peninsula. 

That  the  Governments  on  both  sides  were  pleased  with 
the  final  settlement  it  is  easy  to  imagine,  for  they  had  by 

1  The  Moluccas  were  also  to  be  given  up  when  the  spice  monopoly  was 
entirely  abolished,  which  happened  in  1824. 


BRITISH    OCCUPATION,    1811    TO    1816     407 

this  time  become  almost  hopeless  of  reaching  an  agreement 
between  the  two  countries. 

Governor  FendalP  left  Java  in  June,  1818,  on  the  ship 
Ccesar,  with  Sir  William  Keir,  Captain  Taylor,  and  the 
whole  English  staff  in  Java,  having  already  ceased  to  act 
as  Governor  since  1816.  The  Dutch  accorded  him  all 
honours  on  his  departure. 

With  him  ended  the  British  occupation  of  Java,  as  was 
later  notified  in  the  Java  Government  Gazette  Extraordinary 
dated  Monday,  the  19th  August,  1818.^ 

1  John  Fendall,  who  was  born  in  London  on  the  9th  October,  1762,  was 
in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company,  and  died  at  Calcutta  on  the  10th 
November,  1825,  after  having  served  on  the  Viceroy's  Council  from  1824. 

"^  See  the  Appendix  for  various  records  of  the  British  Occupation  of  Java. 


CHAPTER  X 

Java  once  more  under  Dutch  Rule  :   1816  to  the 
Present  Day 

The  Dutch  again  Bulers  in  Java. — The  Dutch  on  their 
return  to  power  in  1816  had  a  difficult  task  to  perform,  for 
they  were  no  longer  the  agents  of  a  bankrupt  commercial 
Company,  which  had  wielded  supremacy  in  the  East  Indies 
only  for  the  amassing  of  wealth  and  the  paying  of  large 
dividends  to  grasping  shareholders,  but  they  were  now  the 
representatives  of  a  sovereign  who  had  a  name  to  make  and 
maintain.  It  w^as  necessary  above  all,  therefore,  that  their 
prestige  in  the  East,  which  had  lasted  for  more  than  two 
centuries,  but  of  late  had  been  severely  shaken,  should  be 
re-estabHshed,  and  that  all  trace  of  the  British  administra- 
tion should  be  wiped  out.  This  policy  was  not  especially 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  character  of  this  administration  had 
been  actually  disapproved  of  by  them,  but  their  name  had 
to  be  rehabiHtated  at  all  costs.  In  many  cases  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  any  half-measures  would  have  been 
ineffective,  but  in  other  cases,  through  their  haste  to  alter 
existing  privileges  without  first  thoroughly  examining  into 
these,  they  raised  hornets'  nests  about  their  ears,  which 
took  years  to  quiet  down. 

Trouble  Brewing  at  Native  Courts. — The  conditions  in  Java 
under  the  administration  of  Raffles  had  entirely  altered; 
more  freedom  was  allowed  to  the  natives  ;  slavery  had  been 
more  or  less  suspended ;  an  independent  spirit  had  grown 
up  amongst  the  princes  and  regents,  to  which  the  young 
Dutch  officials  were  unaccustomed  and  which  was  not  what 
they  had  been  led  to  expect  from  a  race  that  their  fore- 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     409 

fathers  had  managed  to  keep  so  thoroughly  in  hand.  These 
new  officials  were  naturally  as  full  of  zeal  for  their  country 
as  it  was  possible  to  be,  but  they  lacked  experience.  When 
in  the  execution  of  their  duties  in  the  interior  they  assumed 
a  high  and  haughty  tone  in  addressing  the  princes,  and 
dictated  without  giving  a  chance  for  a  discussion  of  opinion, 
the  latter,  who,  under  the  British  Government,  had  become 
accustomed  to  a  polite  and  deferential  treatment,  in  accord- 
ance with  their  inherited  right  as  rulers,  declined  to  put  up 
with  these  methods,  or  if  compelled  did  so  in  a  sullen  and 
dissatisfied  mood  which  boded  no  good  for  the  future.  It 
was  apparent,  therefore,  to  the  merest  beginner  in  politics 
that  such  strained  relations  as  at  the  time  existed  between 
the  hereditary  house  of  Djockjakarta  and  Soerckarta  and 
the  Dutch  must  sooner  or  later  lead  to  a  conflagration,  once 
a  spark  should  be  thrown  on  the  ready  fuel. 

Java  War  1825  to  1830  Breaks  Out. — In  an  ill-advised 
moment  this  spark  was  supplied  through  a  tactless  and 
unnecessary  order  given  by  the  authorities  at  Buitenzorg  in 
regard  to  the  land  tenure  of  Mid  Java.  The  result  was  a 
war  which  lasted  five  years,  and  depopulated  some  of  the 
finest  provinces  in  the  island. 

The  lands  in  the  region  mentioned  had  for  a  thousand 
years  past,  in  accordance  with  the  Old  Hindu  laws,  been 
leased  by  the  sovereigns  to  the  princes,  who  in  their  turn 
leased  them  to  the  agriculturists.  The  trouble  arose 
entirely  through  these  lands  having  been  hired  in  more 
recent  years  by  Chinese  and  Europeans,  the  latter  being  a 
few  French,  but  chiefly  Dutch. 

The  existing  regulations,  it  must  be  admitted,  were  far 
from  perfect,  and  the  rightful  owners  of  the  soil  were  in 
point  of  fact  being  fleeced  in  so  far  that  full  value  was  not 
being  paid  for  the  properties  hired.  The  princes  or pangerans 
were,  moreover,  nevertheless  well  satisfied  with  these 
arrangements,  for  they  were  still  in  receipt  of  large  incomes 


410  JAVA 

drawn  from  the  hirers  of  these  lands,  and  in  an  easy  and 
entirely  legitimate  manner  were  able  to  keep  up  the  standard 
of  luxurious  living  necessary  for  their  positions. 

The  Dutch  officials,  however,  doubtless  had  the  twofold 
end  in  view  of  clearing  out  these  foreign  leeches  (possibly 
not  so  much  the  Hollanders  as  the  Chinese),  and  of  regulating 
once  and  for  all  the  system.  It  looked,  indeed,  as  if  these 
princes  were  lapped  in  wealth,  but  here  a  mistake  was  made. 
Orders  were  sent  by  the  Government  at  Buitenzorg  that  all 
present  contracts  were  to  be  annulled,  or  if  executed  to  be 
restricted  by  wholly  impossible  conditions.  The  Resident 
at  Djockjakarta,  Baron  de  Salis,  had  been  replaced  at  this 
time  by  Jonkheer  A.  H.  Smissaert,  a  man  whose  family  and 
personal  gifts  were  under  ordinary  circumstances  such  as 
wholly  to  warrant  his  being  placed  in  this  very  difficult 
position.^  The  secretary  at  Djockja  was  also  unfortunately 
changed,  Chevallier  taking  the  place  of  D'abo.  These 
alterations  were  at  this  critical  moment  a  mistake,  for 
Smissaert,  not  properly  grasping  the  situation,  endeavoured, 
instead  of  arranging  matters  by  a  mutual  understanding, 
to  carry  out  the  Government's  instructions  to  the  letter  ; 
this  he  did  in  all  their  severity  with  no  tact  whatever.  If 
to  this  is  added  the  circumstance  that  a  stupid  interpreter 
translated  documents  of  importance  incorrectly,  it  can  be 
easily  seen  that  the  elements  were  all  there  for  intensifying 
the  trouble.  The  princes  were  now  told  to  reimburse  the 
hirers  of  their  lands  the  sums  advanced  them,  and  to  take 
back  the  former,  with  the  fabricks  and  houses  included,  at 
the  Resident's  valuation. 

The  means  to  pay  back  such  sums  advanced  were  naturally 
lacking,  much  more  so  to  take  over  property  which  was  of 
no  value  to  them.  Moreover,  a  point  which  struck  these 
pangerans  as  entirely  indefensible  was  the  forcing  of 
them  to  cancel  contracts  which  carried  the  seal  of  their 
See  note  at  end  of  this  chapter. 


HI 

Hi 

HH^HK^/'              T^ltt 

■M 

HH 

■^ 

^^s^ 

B    ^hj^llPli 

" 

1 

^^H^PiiB 

i 

ilH 

^^^3 

lyP(if->     1 

'   ^^H 

^ 

^^hHh 

j!^'-. ...../ 

■ 

^^i^H^^^^^I 

^ 

J 

H 

THE    SULTAN    OK    JOCKJAKAKTA    GOING    IN    PROCESSION    FROM    THE    CRATON 
SITI    INGGIL    AT    THE    GAREBEG    FESTIVAL. 


THE    RESIDENT  S    HOUSE    AT    JOCKJAKARTA. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     411 

highly  revered  ancestors — an  action  to  them  worse  than 
sacrilege. 

The  prime  mover  in  the  rising  was  Dipo  Negoro,  an 
illegitimate  son  of  a  former  sultan,  who  was  eventually 
joined  by  Prince  Mangkn  Boemi,  of  the  reigning  house. 
The  former  was  a  religious  fanatic,  and  in  taking  up  arms 
he  did  so  in  the  name  of  the  Prophet  Mahomet,  wiiich 
brought  almost  the  whole  population  to  his  standard. 

Eumours  of  the  rising  were  more  or  less  unheeded  by  the 
Dutch,  and  before  they  knew  it  they  found  themselves  in 
the  midst  of  a  maelstrom  the  like  of  which  they  could  never 
have  foreseen.  The  military  force  at  their  disposal  was 
found  to  be  entirely  inadequate,  and  reinforcements,  such 
as  they  were,  had  to  be  drawn  from  all  the  outlying  stations 
in  the  dependencies,  leaving  these  settlements  without 
proper  defences. 

The  Dutch  turned  immediately  to  the  Susuhunan  of  Solo, 
and  tactfully  managed  to  secure  his  neutrality,  which  was 
naturally  of  immense  value.  After  the  first  conflicts  the 
Government  ostentatiously  removed  Smissaert  from  Djockja 
and  replaced  him  by  H.  MacGillavry,^  who  was  resident  at 
Solo,  by  an  edict  dated  the  26th  September,  1825.  It 
helped,  however,  in  no  w^ay. 

The  edict  was  signed  by  General  Hendick  Merkus  de  Kock, 
the  Governor  of  Java,  who  proved  himself  to  be  the  strong 
man  that  was  needed  for  the  occasion. 

^  This  Henry  MacGillavry  was  the  son  of  Harry  MacGillavry,  a  Scotch- 
man who  went  to  Holland  about  1740.  Henry  came  to  Java  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  nineteenth  century  and  became  Resident  of  Solo  in  1825,  just 
before  the  war  began.  Being  thought  by  the  Government  to  be  making 
money  out  of  the  commissariat  supphes — which,  however,  could  not  be 
proved — he  was  transferred  to  Sumatra  as  Governor  of  the  Padang  High- 
lands. His  children  were  a  son,  who  went  into  the  factory  ;  Charles  who 
became  assistant  Resident ;  Donald,  administrator  of  a  coffee  estate  in 
East  Java ;  and  Henry,  who  became  owner  of  the  coffee  and  cacao  estate 
near  Djati  Eoengo  and  died  in  1911  ;  and  Robert,  administrator  of  Nobo, 
whose  daughter  married  Burghard,  the  manager  of  the  Koloniale  Bank, 
Samarang, 


412  JAVA 

On  the  28th  July,  1825,  Djockja  was  surrounded,  and 
shortly  after  the  best  part  of  Middle  Java  was  in  flames  and 
the  population  restless  throughout  the  island. 

To  follow  each  skirmish  and  fight  would  entail  volumes^ 
and  is  unnecessary. 

In  all  the  first  encounters,  however,  the  Dutch  found  they 
had  an  enemy  to  deal  with  whose  skill  in  guerilla  warfare 
was  of  no  mean  order  ;  they  frequently  disorganised  the 
Dutch  army  by  attacking  them  in  ambush,  or  sneaking 
through  the  sentries  and  pouring  into  their  camps  on  pitch- 
dark  nights  to  the  accompaniment  of  terrific  soul-piercing 
yells,  dealing  death  with  their  klewangs  ^  on  all  sides,  and  only 
withdrawing  into  the  forest  when  daylight  appeared  and 
their  enemy  marched  out  to  attack  them.  They  would 
renew  these  tactics  at  every  opportunity,  and  harass  the 
army  on  the  march  by  attacking  them  unseen  from  behind 
the  trees  or  bushes  and  cutting  off  stragglers.  Towards  the 
end  of  August,  1825,  even  Samarang  itself  was  threatened, 
where  an  incident  well  worthy  of  mention  occurred  at  the 
beginning  of  the  operations. 

When  the  war  broke  out  trouble  appeared  at  Demak,  and 
the  Samarang  "  schuttery "  (a  burger  corps)  and  sixty 
sailors  from  the  frigate  Javaan,  which  was  lying  in  the  roads, 
were  sent  there,  also  a  corps  of  mounted  volunteers  who  had 
placed  themselves  at  the  disposition  of  General  de  Kock, 
whom  they  had  ridden  out  from  Samarang  to  meet,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  scene  of  hostihties  near  Demak.  This  corps 
consisted  of  nineteen^  gentlemen  of  Samarang  or  elsewhere, 
of  whom  thirteen  were  Englishmen,  and  was  placed  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant  Diedrich  Borneman,"^  an  of&cer 
of  the  Bengal  Lancers. 

^  Major  Louw's  work,  "Java  Oorlog,"  is  the  best  record  of  this  war. 

2  Short,  heavy  native  sabres. 

3  According  to  my  calculations  there  were  twenty-two. 

*  Died  at  Samarang  the  24th  Jvdy,  1833,  and  was  buried  on  Gegadjie 
Hill,  in  a  tomb  standing  out  as  a  pyramid. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     413 

On  the  2nd  September  the  force  marched  to  Dempet  on 
the  road  to  Denidk.  Here  the  following  day  the  said  little 
corps  of  mounted  volunteers,  seeing  the  enemy  in  the  dis- 
tance, without  any  direct  orders  and  following  merely  a 
general  one,  charged  the  Javan  centre  with  great  spirit  and 
drove  the  left  column  back  in  disorder.  The  right  and 
centre  columns  of  the  enemy  now,  however,  endeavoured  to 
surround  them,  so  that  Borneman  was  obliged  to  sound  the 
order  to  collect.  This  was  immediately  obeyed,  and  the 
party  again  attacked  the  other  columns.  Unfortunately 
these  columns  had  muskets  and  kept  up  a  continuous  fire, 
so  that  the  order  had  to  be  given  to  retire.  The  men  in  the 
corps  were  not  sufficiently  masters  of  their  horses,  and  there 
was  also  not  any  advantageous  ground  to  which  to  retire, 
so  that  they  were  obliged  to  retreat  on  the  road  to  Samarang. 
Here  the  village  folk  turned  out  in  thousands,  and,  when 
able,  picked  the  men  off  one  by  one  ;  of  the  party  of  twenty- 
two  fourteen  were  cut  to  pieces,  of  whom  seven  were  British. 
A  medal  was  struck  and  given  to  those  that  survived.^ 
The  Dutch  had  to  eventually  retire  from  Demak  more  or 
less  beaten,  and  when  the  news  of  this  defeat  reached 
Samarang  the  consternation  in  the  town  was  great,  and  all 
the  tenants  of  the  houses  in  the  Bodjong  road  left  them  and 
retired  inside  the  walls  of  the  town.  More  troops  now 
arrived,  and  the  safety  of  the  Kesidency  of  Samarang  was 
guaranteed  by  General  van  Geen,  in  consequence  of  which 
and  of  a  public  note  from  the  Resident  the  Europeans 
returned  to  their  houses  in  Bodjong.  General  de  Kock  was 
at  this  moment  at  Salatiga  with  fifteen  hundred  men  pre- 
paring for  a  new  battle  ;  he  had  also  seven  eager  volunteers.^ 
The  result  of  this  was  no  better  than  the  first  fight. 

1  See  note  at  end  of  this  chapter. 

2  S.  Hamar  de  la  Brethoniere,  Frenchman,  owner  of  "  Assinan  "  cocoa 
and  nutmeg  estate  ;  Medard  Louis,  Frenchman,  administrator  and  late 
owner   of   Melambong   coffee   estate ;     WiUiam   Brown,    EngUshman    at 


414  JAVA 

During  the  whole  of  1825  and  1826  the  enemy  under  Dipo 
Negoro  spread  then'  power  through  Kedoe  Pekalongan, 
Ledok,  Selarong,  and  Madioen,  where  a  Javan  called  Sentot, 
a  son  of  a  former  regent  of  this  place,  with  a  large  number 
of  natives  joined  the  standard.  The  Banjoemas  fell  also 
under  the  influence  of  the  enemy,  so  that  the  anxiety  and 
responsibihty  of  the  commander-in-chief  was  very  great. 
Towards  July,  1826,  the  crisis  was  reached,  Dipo  Negoro's 
power  was  now  at  its  height,  and  the  Dutch  had  sustained 
such  heavy  losses  through  battle  and  sickness  that  they 
were  no  longer  in  a  fit  state  to  take  the  field.  There  were 
no  more  troops  from  the  outlying  islands  to  be  called  in, 
and  matters  looked  very  dark  indeed.  New  troops  were 
therefore  ordered  out  from  Holland,  and  the  army  in 
the  field  remained  partially  inactive  whilst  the  reinforce- 
ments were  arriving.  Small  fights,  however,  occurred  at 
Delangoe  and  Kahtan,  in  which  the  Dutch  again  came 
off  badly. 

The  new  troops  from  Holland,  when  they  did  arrive,  proved 
no  use,  as  they  were  a  raw,  undisciplined  crowd  of  youngsters 
who,  after  being  cooped  up  for  nearly  four  and  a  half  months 
on  board  the  ships,  when  brought  on  shore  at  Samarang 
broke  loose  and  committed  all  sorts  of  disgraceful  outrages, 
disgusting  and  frightening  the  Dutch  and  native  inhabitants 
of  the  place,  who  shut  themselves  up  in  their  houses  when- 
ever they  appeared.  They  were,  however,  eventually 
brought  to  reason  and  sent  up  country,  where  they  very 
shortly  fell  victims  to  the  hardships  of  life  in  the  field,  or  if 
by  chance  they  succeeded  in  withstanding  this  (which  very 
few  did)  they  died  off  from  dysentery,  fevers,  and  cholera. 
From  a  private  letter  from  Gillian  Maclaine,  the  head  of  the 

Melambong  ;  Jolin  S.  Cameron,  Englisliman,  brother  of  Lewis  Cameron, 
of  Deans  Scott  and  Co.  ;  H.  Israel,  Armenian,  owner  of  Land,  Tegal  Tappen 
1816  (or  J.  Israel,  owner  of  Land,  Karang,  Anjer,  1818) ;  A.  E.  Bromver, 
Dutchman  of  Merchant  House,  Brouwer  Nolthenius  and  Co.  ;  Verwoort, 
planter,  Salatiga. 


i'ALACK    (IF    TlIK    (idVKKNOlI-GKN'KKAL    AT    UriTKXZdKd. 


GOVERNOR-GENEKAL  .^    PALA(  K.    KYSWVK.    BATAVIA. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     415 

house  of  Maclaine,  Watson  &  Co.,  Java,  to  his  brother,  dated 
Samarang  the  14th  June,  1828,  the  following  extract  may- 
be given  : — 

"  Out  of  three  thousand  fine  young  men  who  marched  through 
here  last  season  for  the  interior  sixteen  hundred  have  actually 
died  by  the  official  returns  made  a  month  back.  The  number 
of  deaths  now  amount  to  eighteen  hundred.  This  sad  mortahty 
is  not  occasioned  so  much  by  the  climate  as  by  want  of  care. 
The  Commissariat  department  is  bad,  the  medical  not  much 
better.  The  soldiers  have  no  change  of  dress,  no  tents  when  in 
the  field  ;  in  short,  no  comfort.  I  scarcely  think  Dipo  Negoro's 
generals  manage  matters  so  badly." 

At  one  time  the  Dutch  Government  actually  ran  short  of 
guns,  and  had  to  ask  the  help  of  one  of  the  English  houses, 
Thompson,  Koberts  &  Co.,  to  try  and  buy  a  supply  for  them 
at  Singapore. 

In  1827  the  Government,  fully  realising  that  this  hand- 
to-mouth  method  of  procedure  was  likely  to  cost  them  more 
in  the  end,  set  about  improving  matters. 

The  commissariat  and  transport  departments  were  over- 
hauled and  taken  in  hand,  provisions  being  improved  and  a 
proper  administrative  staff  being  appointed.  The  soldiers 
were  to  be  paid  regularly,  and  not,  as  heretofore,  to  have  to 
wait  months  for  their  pay,  so  that  the  officers  were  obliged 
to  advance  them  small  sums  to  purchase  absolute  neces- 
saries. The  sick  were  to  be  better  cared  for  instead  of 
being  left  to  die  in  cowsheds,  and  the  field  forces  were  to  be 
properly  clothed  and  housed.  Clothes  some  of  them  had 
none,  and  the  bamboo  sheds  given  them  now  and  again  to 
live  in  were  mere  "  kraals  "  fit  for  beasts  but  not  for  men, 
being  exposed  on  all  sides  to  wind  and  weather.  Proper 
doctors  in  sufficient  number  were  also  to  be  secured.  Up 
till  now  several  had  been  caring  for  the  wounded  with  little 
or  no  knowledge  of  medicine  or  the  art  of  healing.  This  all 
tended   to   there   being   an   unprecedented   percentage   of 


416  JAVA 

deaths,  which  was  due,  not  to  battle,  but  to  the  following 
four  main  causes  : — 

1.  Want  of  clothes. 

2.  Bad  housing  or  want  of  housing. 

3.  Too  little  and  poor  food. 

4.  Bad  doctors,  and  medical  assistance. 

By  the  middle  of  1827  these  improvements  had  been 
carried  out,  and  when  a  system  of  redoubts,  which  were 
erected  at  intervals  in  regular  order,  was  completed  affairs 
looked  distinctly  brighter.  Each  redoubt  had  its  own  com- 
plement of  men  and  two  cannon  which  swept  all  sides,  and 
the  officer  in  charge  was  responsible  for  keeping  a  certain 
district  quiet.  As  in  general  the  redoubt  garrisons  Vv^ere 
made  up  of  men  actually  unfit  for  active  service,  very  few 
of  those  available  were  not  in  the  field  attached  to  the 
mobile  columns  ;  these  de  Kock  now  caused  to  be  ever  on 
the  march  and  thus  give  no  peace  or  rest  to  the  enemy. 

The  idea  of  this  redoubt  system  originated  in  the  mind  of 
Lieutenant  A.  J.  C.  Dezentje,  who  was  adjutant  to  the 
Emperor  of  Solo's  legion  for  some  years. ^ 

An  Englishman  endeavours  to  secure  Peace. — The  discom- 
fiture of  Dipo  Negoro  and  his  generals  was  soon  apparent, 
and  by  August,  1827,  Mr.  William  Stavers,  an  Englishman, 
and  the  owner  of  an  estate  called  Singo  Sarie,  managed  to 
open  negotiations  with  one  of  Dipo  Negoro's  generals,  and 
sent  the  following  correspondence  to  headquarters  ^ : — 

"  Mr  Stavers  presents  his  respectful  compliments  to  his 
Excellency  the  Commissary-General  of  Netherlands,  India,  etc., 
etc.,  and  has  the  pleasm-e  of  forwarding  the  copy  of  a  letter  being 
an  answer  to  the  letter  written  by  the  Pangeran  de  Patie  Poerbaya. 
After  the  usual  compUments  it  commences  as  follows  : — 

"  '  I  have  received  your  letter  the  contents  of  which  I  know 
and  understand.     What  you  speak  of  that  is  my  wish,  the  raising 

1  An  account  of  this  man  and  his  son  is  given  at  the  end  of  this  chapter. 

2  This  correspondence  is  to  be  found  in  Major  Louw's  great  work, 
"  The  Java  War." 


JAV^A  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     417 

or  elevation  of  the  Islam  reUgion  on  Java,  that  is  to  say,  that  no 
other  rehgion  may  be  above  the  religion  of  Islam,  above  it  if 
possible,  but  not  the  same.' 
"  30  Doelkadji,  1242." 

This  letter,  says  Stavers,  was  written  as  Kjahi  Madja 
received  the  news  of  the  defeat  of  his  army  at  Pasar  Gede 
and  was  in  a  very  bad  humour. 

"  Another  letter  is  ready  for  him,  which,  if  possible,  I  am  to 
take  myself.  If  I  succeed  I  shall  send  your  Excellency  a  copy  of 
it.  If  not,  your  Excellency  shall  have  a  copy  of  the  answer  that 
goes  to  Dipo  Negoro.  Trifling  as  these  letters  may  be,  I  hope 
they  may  be  the  means  of  opening  a  correspondence.  I  know 
the  Resident  MacGillavry  has  sent  a  letter  with  great  difficulty 
to  Kjahi  Madja  by  an  old  woman  who  has  not  returned  yet. 
One  does  suspect  she  will  never  return,  as  I  hear  the  rebels  will 
have  nothing  to  do  with  him.  I  am  extremely  sorry  to  hear 
your  Excellency  has  been  so  indisposed,  but  hope  the  fine  air  of 
Buitenzorg  wiU  soon  bring  your  Excellency  sound  again." 

On  the  13th  August  Stavers  sent  the  Governor- General 
two  more  letters. 

The  first  was  an  answer  to  the  letter  he  had  said  he  would 
send  Kjahi  Madja  as  above,  and  the  second  was  his  own 
answer  to  this.  The  most  important  portion  of  the  first  is, 
according  to  the  translation  Stavers  gave,  as  follows  : — 

"  His  Excellency  General  De  Kock  and  General  Van  Geen 
both  of  them  know  the  reasons  why  his  Highness  Dipanegara  is 
grieved,  and  you  wish  to  know  which  is  his  Highness'  wish,  and 
which  I  wish.  We  ask  nothing.  His  Highness  the  Sultan 
Dipanegara  wish  that  he  (the  G.G.)  will  make  him  Radja  Islam. 
All  the  priests  and  all  my  family,  and  all  the  people  proclaim  him 
Sultan,  and  ask  it  of  God,  and  if  possible  do  also  ask  of  God  to 
make  clean  the  rehgion  of  Islam  on  Java.  If  his  Excellency 
the  Commissary-General  will  agree  to  his  Highness'  wish,  yes 
I  will  meet  you  both. 

"  15th  of  Sura  ;  8th  Aug.,  1827." 

J. — VOL.  I.  E    E 


418  JAVA 

Stavers  replied  as  follows  : — 

"  We  have  told  his  Excellency  the  Governor-General  De  Kock 
the  contents  of  your  letter.  His  Excellency  -will  settle  about 
his  Highness  being  proclaimed  Sultan  Islam,  and  again  about  the 
explanation  of  the  reUgion  of  Islam.  Yes,  he  will  settle  about 
that  also.  The  reason  H.E.  cannot  give  a  decisive  answer  is  he 
must  first  refer  it  to  his  Excellency  the  Commissioner-General 
at  Batavia.  Now  we  ask  permission  from  his  Excellency  the 
Governor-General  if  you  think  it  good  to  stop  all  operations  of 
war  that  we  may  the  better  consult  on  the  present  business. 

"  His  Excellency  wishes  Mr.  Stavers  and  myself  to  meet  his 
Highness  Dipanegara,  and  yourself  Kjahi  Madja,  for  the  above 
purpose,  if  his  Highness  has  any  doubts  of  our  sincerity  we  can 
ask  his  Excellency  for  his  son,  whom  we  are  sure  he  will  send 
should  you  wish  it.  We  escort  your  messengers  to  Klaten,  where 
we  shall  wait  his  Highness'  orders,  and  hope  H.H.  will  send 
passes  for  us  that  we  may  both  meet  H.H.  and  yourself  as  soon 
as  possible. 

"  Mohammet  ibn  AU,  and  Mr.  Stavers,  to  Kjahigoeroe  Madja, 
13  Aug.,  1827." 

Kjahi  Madja  duly  answered  this  letter  as  follows  : — 

"  To  Mahommet  ibn  Ah  Kitip  and  Mr.  Stavers. 

**  Your  letter  I  have  received,  and  the  contents  I  understand. 
The  Governor-General  will  consult  with  the  Commissary-General. 
You  speak  of  an  end  of  war  and  you  wish  to  meet  the  Sultan 
and  myself,  that  you  wish  a  pass,  and  people  to  show  you  the 
way. 

"  About  the  end  of  war  I  have  spoken  to  the  Sultan.  Yes,  he 
agrees  to  stop  all  hostiUties,  but  both  parties  shall  remain  quiet 
at  their  respective  posts. 

"  You  wish  to  meet  his  Highness  and  myself ;  his  Highness 
does  not  wish  to  meet  you  himself,  but  will  send  myself  and 
Pangeran  Ngabehi  Abdul  Rachman. 

"  Both  of  you  had  better  consult  together,  that  anything 
may  be  more  easy  ;  when  you  have  consulted  with  the  Commissary- 
General  send  me  word,  and  I  will  directly  send  people  to  meet 
you." 

"  Jargo  Lamy,  Wednesday  22nd  of  the  moon.  Mahomad." 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     419 

This  letter  was  a  somewhat  awkward  one,  having  gone  a 
step  further  than  was  expected  before  the  Governor  was 
ready.  Thus  we  find  Stavers  writing  to  De  Kock  as 
follows  : — 

"  The  above  letter  puts  me  to  my  shifts.  The  only  thing  I 
can  beg  of  your  Excellency  to  do  is  to  send  a  letter  to  Mahommet 
ibn  Ali  and  myself,  authorising  us  to  parlementair  with  Kjahi 
Madja,  and  Pangeran  Ngabehi.  Your  Excellency  will  see  he 
wishes  to  consult  with  the  Commissary-General,  but  this  will  lose 
much  time. 

"  He  is  near  Klaten  now  and  a  few  days  would  be  a  great  loss. 
His  people  are  still  with  me .  Please  to  write  what  your  Excellency 
should  wish  to  show  them,  also  that  your  Excellency  authorises 
me  to  meet  them  in  half  margin  with  your  Excellency's  seal,  and 
Mahommet  ibn  Ali  will  write  it  in  Arab  on  the  other  side." 

De  Kock  gave  Stavers  the  necessary  authority  to  visit 
the  rebel  camp,  but  this  visit  ended  in  nothing — Stavers 
was  unable  to  get  Dipo  Negoro  to  alter  his  conditions,  to 
which  the  Dutch  Government  virtually  declined  to  listen. 
For  his  valuable  services  Stavers  was  appointed  in  September, 
1827,  a  captain  on  the  general  staff  and  decorated. 

Fighting  began  again,  and  although  the  new  system  was 
found  a  very  convenient  one,  it  did  not,  on  account  of  the 
enemy  changing  their  tactics,  immediately  answer  all  that 
was  expected  of  it,  and  the  question  was  seriously  considered 
of  giving  it  up. 

In  December,  1827,  trouble  broke  out  in  Rembang,  and 
spread  over  all  the  whole  residency  to  such  a  degree  as  to 
be  called  another  "  Java  war."  The  Resident  was  F.  E. 
Hardy,  an  Englishman  by  birth,^  who  was  in  Java  under 
Raffles,  and  the  \yorry  of  this  little  war  caused  his  death  on 
the  6th  February,  1828. 

Further  new  troops  were  now  sent  out  from  Holland,  and 
a  force  of  nearly  twenty-five  thousand  men  was  put  into  the 

1  A  forefather,  I  believe,  in  Java  of  the  well-known  ProboHngo  family  of 
that  name. 

E   E   2 


420  JAVA 

field  by  De  Kock,  who  with  restless  energy  at  last  was  able 
to  begin  drawing  his  lines  closer  and  closer  on  a  dis- 
comfited enemy.  The  war  was  now  only  a  matter  of  time. 
The  enemy  began  at  last  to  suffer  from  want  of  provisions, 
and  was  obliged  to  loot  from  the  villagers,  and  who  conse- 
quently assisted  them  no  longer.  On  the  6th  August,  1829, 
the  family  of  Prince  Mangku  Boemi  surrendered  themselves 
to  the  Dutch,  followed  very  shortly  afterwards  by  the 
prince  himself,  who  saw  the  day  was  lost.  In  October 
Sentot  and  all  his  army  went  over  to  the  Dutch. 

Dipo  Negoro  still  held  out,  however,  and  evaded  the 
Dutch  for  still  another  five  months.  His  family,  however, 
was  captured,  and  at  last  on  the  28th  March,  1830,  he  him- 
self was  taken  prisoner,  but  not  in  a  very  direct  manner. 
The  Dutch  offering  him  terms  of  peace,  he  came  in  with  his 
followers  with  their  krisses,  and  on  account  of  this  w^as  taken 
prisoner  in  the  residency  house  at  Magelango.  He  would, 
however,  in  any  case  have  been  captured  very  shortly,  as 
his  troops  were  being  hemmed  in  between  the  rivers  Bogo 
Wonto  and  Progo,  the  former  of  which,  on  account  of  some 
old  superstition,  they  dare  not  cross.  Dipo  Negoro  was  at 
once  sent  into  captivity  to  Macasoar  at  Nice,  where  he  died 
in  1855.  Thus  ended  a  war  that  had  lasted  five  years  and 
cost  the  Dutch  Government  at  least  twenty-five  million 
guilders,  besides  the  loss  of  about  fifteen  thousand  Europeans 
and  native  soldiers. 

A  number  of  Dutchmen  distinguished  themselves  in  this 
long  war  and  deserve  to  be  mentioned  (see  note  at  end  of 
chapter). 

There  were  also  many  Frenchmen  and  several  Englishmen 
attached  to  the  cavalry,  who  proved  themselves  men  of 
character.  On  the  slightest  occasion  these  cavalry  squad- 
rons, sometimes  with,  but  more  frequently  without,  orders, 
would  charge,  with  a  loss  more  serious,  however,  to  them- 
selves  than   to   the   enemy,   the  ground   being   generally 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     421 

unsuitable  for  cavalry  operations.  Thus  nearly  all  the 
Frenchmen  in  Java  were  killed. 

Cultuur  System  (1831 — 1870). — The  war  was  scarcely  over 
when  the  new  Governor- General  Johannes  van  den  Bosch, 
who  took  over  the  seals  of  office  on  the  16th  January,  1830, 
introduced  his  renowned  system  for  raising  money  and 
filling  the  sorely  deplenished  Dutch  exchequer,  called  the 
"  Culture  System."  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this 
system  was  the  greatest  benefit  the  island  ever  had,  and  in 
the  forty  years  it  was  in  vigorous  operation  the  exports  of 
Java,  and  no  less  the  population,  increased  tenfold.  The 
more  successful  the  system  became,  the  more  the  Dutch 
nation  was  abused,  the  richer  it  became,  the  more  it  was  con- 
demned. Invective  and  condemnation,  insults  and  threats, 
were  showered  upon  it  by  the  so-called  humanitarian 
sections  of  English  society.  Had,  however,  England  sub- 
stituted this  system  for  the  very  inefficient  "  ryot  warree  " 
or  land  system  she  introduced  in  India,  it  would  have  been 
better  for  that  country  to-day  ;  for  as  during  this  time 
India,  with  an  area  sixteen  times  greater  than  that  of  Java 
and  with  twelve  times  the  population,  only  produced  a 
revenue  four  times  as  great,  it  is  clear  which  system  was  the 
more  efficient. 

While  the  "  culture  system  "  was  more  or  less  at  its 
height  and  public  opinion  regarding  its  iniquity  at  boiling 
point,  Mr.  J.  W.  B.  Money,  a  clever  Calcutta  barrister, 
visited  Java  in  1859  and  stated  openly  that  he  had  nothing 
but  praise  to  bestow  on  all  he  saw. 

This  he  declared  in  a  two-volume  book,  entitled  "  Java  ; 
or.  How  to  Manage  a  Colony." 

Wallace,  the  great  naturalist,  who  was  m  Java  between 
the  18th  July  and  the  31st  October,  1861,  records  his  views 
on  the  system  as  follows  : — 

"  This  brings  us  to  the  culture  system  which  is  the  source 
of  all  the  wealth  the  Dutch  derive  from  Java,  and  is  the  subject 


422  JAVA 

of  much  abuse  in  this  country  because  it  is  the  reverse  of  free 
trade. 

"  Natives  of  tropical  climates  have  few  wants,  and  when  these 
are  suppUed  are  disinclined  to  work  for  superfluities  without 
some  strong  incitement.  With  such  a  people  the  introduction 
of  any  new  or  systematic  cultivation  is  almost  impossible  except 
by  the  despotic  order  of  chiefs  whom  they  have  been  accustomed 
to  obey,  as  children  obey  their  parents. 

"  The  full  competition  of  European  traders  however  introduces 
two  powerful  inducements  to  exertion.  Spirits  or  opium  is  a 
temptation  too  strong  for  most  savages  to  resist,  and  to  obtain 
these  he  will  sell  whatever  he  has,  and  will  work  to  get  more. 
Another  temptation  he  cannot  resist  is  goods  on  credit.  The 
trade  offers  him  gay  clothes,  knives,  gongs,  guns  and  gunpowder 
to  be  paid  for  by  some  crop  perhaps  not  yet  planted,  or  some 
product  yet  in  the  forest.  He  has  not  sufficient  forethought 
to  take  only  a  moderate  quantity,  and  not  enough  energy  to 
work  early  and  late  in  order  to  get  out  of  debt,  and  the  conse- 
quence is  he  accumulates  debt  upon  debt,  and  often  remains 
for  years,  or  for  life,  a  debtor,  and  almost  a  slave. 

"  This  is  a  state  of  things  which  occurs  very  largely  in  every 
part  of  the  world  in  which  men  of  a  superior  race  freely  trade 
with  men  of  a  lower  race.  It  extends  trade,  no  doubt,  for  a 
time,  but  it  demoralises,  and  does  not  lead  to  any  permanent 
increase  in  the  wealth  of  the  country  ;  so  that  the  European 
Government  of  such  a  country  must  be  carried  on  at  a  loss.  The 
system  introduced  by  the  Dutch  was  to  induce  the  people  through 
their  chiefs  to  give  a  portion  of  their  time  to  the  cultivation  of 
coffee,  sugar,  and  other  valuable  products.  A  fixed  rate  of 
wages — low  indeed  but  about  equal  to  that  of  all  places  where 
European  competition  has  not  artificially  raised  it — ^was  paid  to 
the  labourers  engaged  in  clearing  the  groimd  and  forming  the 
plantations  under  Government  superintendence.  The  produce 
is  sold  to  the  Government  at  a  low  fixed  price.  Out  of  the  net 
profits  a  percentage  goes  to  the  chiefs,  and  the  remainder  is 
divided  among  the  workmen.  This  surplus  in  good  years  is 
something  considerable.  On  the  whole,  the  people  are  well  fed 
and  decently  clothed,  and  have  acquired  habits  of  steady  industry, 
and  the  art  of  scientific  cultivation,  which  must  be  of  service  to 
them  in  the  future.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  Govern- 
ment expended  capital  for  years  before  any  return  was  obtained, 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     423 

and  if  they  now  derive  a  large  revenue,  it  is  in  a  way  which  ia 
far  less  burthensome,  and  far  more  beneficial  to  the  people,  than 
any  tax  that  could  be  levied.  But  although  the  system  may  be 
a  good  one,  and  as  well  adapted  to  the  development  of  arts  and 
industry,  in  a  half  civilised  people,  as  it  is  to  the  material  advan- 
tage of  the  governing  country,  it  is  not  pretended  that  in  practice 
it  is  perfectly  carried  out.  The  oppressive  and  servile  relations 
between  chiefs  and  people,  which  have  continued  for  perhaps  a 
thousand  years,  cannot  be  at  once  abolished,  and  some  evil  must 
result  from  those  relations  till  the  spread  of  education  and  the 
gradual  infusion  of  European  blood  causes  it  naturally  and 
insensibly  to  disappear.  It  is  said  that  the  Residents  desirous 
of  showing  a  large  increase  in  the  products  of  their  districts  have 
sometimes  pressed  the  people  to  such  continued  labour  on  the 
plantations  that  their  rice  crops  have  been  materially  diminished, 
and  famine  has  been  the  result.  If  this  has  happened  it  is 
certainly  not  a  common  thing,  and  is  to  be  set  down  to  the  abuse 
of  the  system  by  the  want  of  judgment  or  want  of  humanity  in 
the  Resident. 

"  A  tale  has  lately  been  written  in  Holland  and  translated  into 
EngHsh  entitled  '  Max  Havelaar,  or  the  Coffee  Auctions  of  the 
Dutch  Trading  Company'  (Nederlandsche  Handels  Maatschappij, 
commonly  called  the  'Factory'),  and  with  our  usual  one-sidedness 
in  all  relating  to  the  Dutch  colonial  system,  this  work  has  been 
excessively  praised,  both  for  its  own  merits,  and  for  its  supposed 
crushing  exposure  of  the  iniquities  of  the  Dutch  government  of 
Java.  Greatly  to  my  surprise  I  found  it  a  very  tedious  and  long- 
winded  story  full  of  rambling  digressions,  and  whose  only  point  is 
to  show  that  the  Dutch  Residents  and  assistant  Residents  wink 
at  the  extortions  of  the  native  princes,  and  that  in  some  districts 
the  natives  have  to  do  work  without  payment  and  have  their 
goods  taken  away  from  them  without  compensation. 

"  Every  statement  of  this  kind  is  thickly  interspersed  with 
italics  and  capital  letters,  but  as  the  names  are  all  fictitious,  and 
neither  dates,  figures,  nor  details  are  even  given,  it  is  impossible 
to  verify  or  answer  them.  Even  if  not  exaggerated  the  facts 
stated  are  not  nearly  so  bad  as  those  of  the  oppression  by  free 
trade  indigo  planters,  and  torturing  by  native  tax  gatherers 
under  British  rule  in  India,  with  which  the  readers  of  English 
newspapers  were  famihar  a  few  years  ago.  Such  oppression, 
however,  is  not  fairly  to  be  imputed  in  either  case  to  the  particular 


424  JAVA 

form  of  government ;  but  it  is  rather  due  to  the  infirmity  of 
human  nature,  and  to  the  impossibihty  of  at  once  destroying 
all  trace  of  ages  of  despotism  on  the  one  side,  and  of  slavish 
obedience  to  their  chiefs  on  the  other.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  the  complete  estabUshment  of  Dutch  power  in  Java  is  much 
more  recent  than  that  of  our  rule  in  India,  and  that  there  have 
been  several  changes  of  government,  and  in  the  mode  of  raising 
revenue.  The  inhabitants  have  been  so  recently  under  the  rule 
of  their  native  princes  that  it  is  not  easy  at  once  to  destroy  the 
excessive  reverence  they  feel  for  their  old  masters,  or  to  diminish 
the  oppressive  exactions  which  the  latter  have  always  been 
accustomed  to  make. 

"  There  is,  however,  one  grand  test  of  the  prosperity,  and 
even  of  the  happiness,  of  a  community  which  we  can  apply  here, 
the  rate  of  increase  of  the  population. 

"It  is  universally  admitted  that  when  a  country  increases 
rapidly  in  population  the  people  cannot  be  very  greatly  oppressed 
or  very  badly  governed. 

"  Since  the  beginning  of  the  century  the  population  has 
increased  from  3,500,000  to  in  1865  14,163,416  persons.  If,  as 
I  believe,  this  vast  population  is  on  the  whole  contented  and 
happy,  the  Dutch  Government  should  consider  well  before  abruptly 
changing  a  system  which  has  led  to  such  great  results.  Taking 
it  as  a  whole,  and  surveying  it  from  every  point  of  view,  Java 
is  probably  the  very  finest  and  most  interesting  tropical  island 
in  the  world." 

It  will  be  seen  from  these  remarks  by  Wallace,  written  at 
the  time  by  such  a  trustworthy  and  accurate  recorder,  that 
the  scathing  remarks  made  against  the  Dutch  nation  at  this 
period  were  wholly  undeserved.  The  system  was  carried 
on  in  full  vigour  during  the  Governorships  of  their  Excel- 
lencies Jean  Chretien  Band,  Dominique  Jacques  de  Eereus, 
Carel  Girardus  Willem,  Count  vanHogendorp,  Pieter  Merkus, 
Jonkheer  Joan  Cornelis  Keynot,  and  Jan  Jacob  Kochussen.^ 
By  this  time  various  abuses  had  crept  into  the  carrying  out 
of  the  regulations,  but  mostly  of  a  local  nature,  and  all  in" 
direct  contradiction  and  in  defiance  of  Van  den  Bosch's 

^  Grand -uncle  of  the  present  author. 


PAXUEKAN    PRABOKNEXCiRAT    (sUKAKARTa),    BROTHER    TO    THE    sUSLHLXaN. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     425 

provisions.  Kochussen,  one  of  the  most  humane  of  gover- 
nors, did  all  that  he  could  to  put  these  abuses  down  v/hilst 
in  Java,  and  when  he  became  colonial  secretary  he  more  or 
less  abolished  them.  The  chief  complaint  was  that  too 
much  land  was  being  used  for  sugar  and  coffee  and  too  little 
for  food  products  for  the  ever-increasing  population.  In 
1870  a  scheme  of  reform  was  introduced  which  relieved  the 
natives  a  great  deal  and  led  the  way  to  the  system  of  free 
cultivation  which  now  exists  in  the  island.  When  all  is  said 
and  done,  however,  the  culture  system  did  an  immense 
amount  of  good  for  Java. 

Trouble  with  England  over  the  Duties. — In  1834  the 
Governor-General,  Band,  introduced  a  heavy  scale  of  duties 
which  specially  affected  British  goods,  and  gave  a  preference 
to  those  of  Dutch  importation,  and  which  was  quite  con- 
trary to  treaty.  This  led  to  a  very  strong  protest  being 
lodged  with  the  Dutch  Government  by  Lord  Palmerston, 
who  was  then  Foreign  Secretary.  Lord  Palmerston  seems 
to  have  only  pressed  the  matter  when  urged  on  by  a  request 
presented  by  the  Glasgow  Chamber  of  Commerce,  which  was 
induced  to  take  this  step  by  the  house  of  James  Finlay  &  Co. 

Trouble  with  England  over  Siak. — Trouble  also  arose 
between  the  two  countries  over  the  validity  of  a  treaty 
which  had  been  made  by  the  English  with  the  Kajah  of  Siak 
in  1818.  The  controversy  was  continued  for  a  long  time, 
and  at  one  period  became  almost  acute.^  It  was  not  finally 
disposed  of  until  1871,  when  a  new  treaty  gave  the  Dutch 
absolute  sway  over  Sumatra,  in  exchange  for  which  England 
assumed  some  rights  which  were  theirs  in  West  Africa, 
which  rights  by  some  w^ere  considered  more  imaginary  than 
real. 

Trouble  ivith  E7igland  over  Sarawak,  1814. — Again  trouble 
arose  with  England  over  Saraivak,  which  in  1841  was  ruled 
over  by  Sir  James  Brooke  as  rajah.     Brooke  was  an  English- 

1  See  McGillian  Maclaine'e  letter  of  the  1st  Marcli  and  the  1st  May,  1833. 


426  JAVA 

man  who  found  his  way  into  the  Eastern  Seas  shortly  after 
the  EngHsh  occupation  of  Java,  and  having  taken  part  in 
an  expedition  to  Burmah  in  1825  was  so  taken  with  the 
romantic  side  of  hfe  and  the  chance  for  adventure  that  he 
left  the  Eoyal  Indian  Army  in  1835  and  bought  his  own  ship 
out  of  a  legacy  of  £30,000  left  him  by  his  father.  He  now 
began  to  roam  about  on  his  own  account,  in  this  small 
schooner  of  a  hundred  and  forty-two  tons.  During  these 
cruises  he  seems  always  to  have  frequented  the  islands  round 
Borneo,  and  became  firm  friends  with  the  Eajah  of  Sarawak, 
Muda  Hassan. 

Once  when  he  was  there  the  town  was  attacked  by  rebels, 
and  proceeding  on  shore  with  his  men  he  assisted  the  rajah 
to  clear  his  dominions. 

Sir  James  Brooke  becomes  Bajah  of  Sarawak,  1840. — By 
1840  he  had  so  entirely  gained  the  affections  of  Muda  Hassan 
that  the  latter  insisted  on  Brooke  becoming  a  rajah  in  his 
place. 

Brooke,  nothing  loth  and  loving  romance,  accepted  the 
proposal,  and  was  duly  installed  and  confirmed  in  his 
possession  by  the  lord  paramount,  the  Sultan  of  Brunei,  on 
the  18th  August,  1840,  at  Kuching. 

In  1843  Captain  Keppel  (afterwards  admiral  of  the  fleet) 
visited  him  with  a  view  to  devising  plans  for  destroying  the 
pirates  in  these  seas,  which  had  increased  since  the  last  raid 
made  by  the  English  in  1813.  The  Dutch  were  not  at  all 
satisfied  with  Sir  James  Brooke's  installation,  and  kept  an 
eye  on  him,  as  despite  his  duties  as  Rajah  of  Sarawak  he 
still  found  time  to  visit  other  islands  and  ports  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood during  his  occasional  cruises. 

Sir  James  Brooke  annexes  Labuan,  1846. — When  Labuan 
was  ceded  to  Brooke  on  the  18th  December,  1846,  their 
patience  gave  out,  and  representations  were  made  to  the 
British  Government  that  this  annexation  was  an  infringe- 
ment of   article  12  of  the  Treaty  of  1824.     There  were 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     427 

certainly  grounds  for  the  protest,  but  the  British  Govern- 
ment had  ceased  to  be  quixotic  over  the  question  of  the 
East  Indian  possessions,  and  the  Minister  for  Foreign 
Affairs,  Lord  Aberdeen,  decHned  to  accept  the  Dutch 
reading  of  the  clause.  This  was  to  the  effect  "  that  the 
British  Government  might  not  make  any  establishments 
on  the  Carimon  Java  Islands,  or  the  islands  of  Battam, 
Bintang,  Lingin,  or  any  other  islands  south  of  the  Straits 
of  Singapore."  Lord  Aberdeen  maintained  that  Labuan 
was  only  for  use  as  a  coaling  station  and  not  for  making  an 
establishment  on,  and  suggested  the  occupation  would  help 
to  keep  down  piracy.  The  Dutch  from  force  of  circum- 
stances were  obliged  to  accept  this  reply. 

In  1857  the  Chinese  at  Sarawak  rose  in  a  body  and 
massacred  all  the  Europeans,  Sir  James  Brooke  escaping 
by  swimming  the  river.  In  due  course,  however,  he  returned 
with  his  faithful  Malays,  and  thrashed  the  Chinese,  cutting 
two  thousand  of  them  to  pieces.  In  1868  this  remarkable 
man  died,  leaving  the  kingdom  to  his  heirs,  who  to  this  day 
reside  and  nominally  rule  there,  although  Sarawak  is  no 
longer  an  independent  State  but  a  part  of  the  English 
dominions  (see  note  at  end  of  chapter). 

In  1877  the  Kajahs  of  Brunei  and  Solok  ceded  a  portion 
of  their  territories  to  Messrs.  Dent  ^  and  Overbeek,  and  these 
rights  were  handed  over  to  the  British  North  Borneo  Com- 
pany in  1881.  Seven  years  later,  on  account  of  the  Russians 
casting  eyes  on  this  part  of  Borneo  to  find  a  place  for  a 
coaling  station,  the  British  Government  extended  the 
Sarawak  territories  and  placed  Brunei  and  the  British  North 
Borneo  Company's  lands,  together  with  Sarawak,  under  the 
protection  of  the  British  Crown,  leaving  the  Brooke  family 
with  certain  ruling  rights  in  perpetuity.  The  opportunity 
was  also  now  taken  to  appoint  a  commission  to  demarcate 
the  boundaries  between  the  Dutch  and  British  territories 

^  Of  the  great  house  of  Dent  «fe  Co.,  Hong  Kong. 


428  JAVA 

of  Borneo.  The  Dutch  had  no  reason  to  be  dissatisfied  with 
the  results,  as  can  be  seen  by  a  glance  at  the  map,  and  the 
boundless  wealth  of  their  portion  has  been  proved  by  the 
few  scratchings  on  the  surface  made  from  time  to  time. 
Borneo  is  one  of  the  countries,  together  with  Sumatra,  whose 
greatness  will  be  in  the  future,  and  the  riches  that  lie  there 
buried  will  place  those  of  Mexico  and  Peru  wholly  in  the 
shade.  Dutch  Borneo,  as  it  was  then  called,  caused  the 
Dutch  at  first  a  considerable  deal  of  trouble,  the  Chinese 
hongsees,  or  guilds,  offering  an  obstinate  resistance  to  what 
they  considered  an  aggression  on  their  ancient  rights.  The 
grandfathers  and  great-grandfathers  of  the  Chinese  for 
several  generations  back  had  been  born  in  Borneo,  and  not 
only  did  they  own  the  land,  but  they  assisted  and  encouraged 
the  pirates  who  practised  their  nefarious  trade  in  these 
waters.  Several  expeditions  were  sent  to  Borneo  before 
these  were  put  down.  At  Banjermassin,  especially,  there 
w^as  trouble,  and  it  was  years  before  the  Dutch  were  able 
completely  to  put  an  end  to  their  difficulties  here.  There 
had  been  always  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the  sultan  here,  who 
disliked  the  Dutch,  to  cultivate  the  acquaintance  of  the  Eng- 
lish, whose  connection  with  Banjermassin  went  back  as  far  as 
the  year  1614,  and  who  had  opened  a  factory  here  in  1703. 

In  1846,  and  again  in  1848,  expeditions  were  sent  to  Bali 
to  bring  into  subjection  the  princes  there,  who  were  con- 
tinually giving  trouble  ;  in  the  final  fight  the  stronghold  of 
Djagaraga  was  taken  and  Karang  Assam  occupied.  Bali 
and  Lombock  were  now  considered  a  portion  of  the  Dutch 
East  Indies.  This  was  rightly  so,  for  as  far  back  as  1597, 
when  Cornells  Houtman's  fleet  was  in  these  waters,  they 
visited  Bali.  A  small  account  of  this  is  given  by  Captain  W. 
Cool,  a  well-known  Dutch  engineer,  in  his  handy  and  very 
pleasant  little  book  entitled  "  With  the  Dutch  in  the  East," 
which  also  embodies  the  story  of  the  Lombock  expedition 
of  1894. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     429 

The  nineteenth  century  seems  one  long  period  of  expedi- 
tions and  strife  with  the  neighbouring  princes,  on  the  part 
of  the  Dutch  ;  for  no  sooner  had  one  expedition  returned 
from  one  part  of  the  Indies  than  another  had  to  be  sent  in 
the  opposite  direction.  So  was  it  with  the  Achin  war. 
This  arose  in  quite  a  simple  manner,  but  lasted  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  When  the  Dutch  and  British  made 
the  treaty  of  November,  1872,  by  which  the  former  acquired 
an  absolutely  free  hand  in  Sumatra,  the  Sultan  of  Achin, 
who  under  a  treaty  made  by  one  of  his  predecessors  in  1819 
with  the  Penang  Government  by  the  direction  of  Sir  Stam- 
ford Baffles  claimed  that  the  British  and  not  the  Dutch 
were  his  overlords,  began  to  make  hostile  demonstrations 
against  the  Dutch,  and  refused  to  make  any  treaty  with 
them  recognising  their  sovereignty.  James  London — a  son 
of  the  well-kno^^^l  Englishman,  Alexander  London,  who  came 
to  Java  with  the  British  Expedition  in  1811,  and  a  small 
account  of  whom  is  given  elsewhere — was  now  Governor- 
General,  and  had  therefore  nothing  left  to  do  but  to  launch 
an  invading  army  against  Achin,  thrash  the  Achinese,  and 
appropriate  their  country.  The  task  had,  however,  been 
underestimated,  for  the  Achinese,  like  the  men  of  the 
ancient  empire  of  Majapahit,  were  born  fighters,  and  when 
they  had  been  aroused  to  defend  their  homes  fanaticism 
made  them  a  formidable  foe.  In  the  first  war  in  1873, 
despite  the  fact  that  all  the  best  Dutch  generals  were  at  the 
front  (Generals  Kohler  van  Sivieten  and  Verspyck  ^),  the 
Dutch  in  the  attack  on  the  kraton  (sultan's  palace)  and 
missigit  (temple)  were  badly  beaten,  and  only  a  year  later 
was  the  missigit  captured  after  a  defence  worthy  of  the  most 
disciplined  troops  in  the  world.  The  war  was,  nevertheless, 
but  in  its  infancy.     Later  Generals  van  der  Heyden  and 

1  The  uncle  of  Mr.  Rudolph  Verspyck,  one  of  the  partners  of  the  firm  of 
Dunlop  and  Kolff,  Samarang.  General  Verspyck  died  in  1909,  at  the  age 
of  84,  covered  with  honours. 


430  JAVA 

Wiggers  van  Kerchem  were  sent  to  the  scene  of  operations, 
and  in  1878  the  former  began  a  vigorous  poHcy  somewhat 
hke  that  of  General  De  Kock  in  the  Java  war,  namely,  the 
continual  harassing  of  the  enemy  by  keeping  them  ever  on 
the  move  and  allowing  them  no  rest.  The  coast  was 
blockaded  and  gradually  the  enemy's  resistance  was  broken 
down,  so  that  by  1881  it  at  last  looked  as  if  the  country  had 
been  pacified,  if  not  conquered.  General  van  der  Heyden 
now  left  Achin,  and  a  new  civil  Governor  (up  till  now  van 
der  Heyden  had  held  the  dual  position  of  civil  and  military 
head),  Pruys  van  den  Hoeven,  took  his  place.  Just  before 
this,  in  1880,  an  unfortunate  incident  occurred.  The  British 
steamship  Nisero,  from  Sourabaya  with  a  full  cargo  of  sugar 
on  board,  was  wrecked  on  the  Achin  coast  on  the  16th 
November,  and  eighteen  British  and  six  other  sailors  were 
made  prisoners.  The  chief  of  Pangah,  a  Malay  dependant 
of  Toekoe  Oemar  Muda,  Kajah  of  Tenom,  in  whose  territory 
the  vessel  was  stranded,  refused  when  requested  by  the 
Dutch  Government  to  release  the  prisoners.  A  ransom  was 
then  offered  to  the  rajah,  but  with  no  greater  effect,  and  a 
threat  of  warlike  proceedings  was  laughed  at.  In  1884,  under 
pressure  from  Earl  Granville,  the  Dutch  stormed  and  took 
Tenom  the  7th  January,  but  the  prisoners,  several  of  whom 
in  the  meantime  had  succumbed  to  their  hardships,  had  been 
removed  to  some  other  stronghold.  In  May  the  British 
Government,  tired  of  procrastination,  dispatched  H.M.S. 
Pegasus  to  the  scene,  and  the  commander  opened  communi- 
cations with  the  rajah.  The  tone  of  the  rajah  was  concilia- 
tory, but  what  he  wanted  was  to  be  placed  under  British 
sovereignty  and  his  country  given  free  trading  rights.  This 
communication  was  carried  back  to  Singapore  and  sent  to 
Earl  Granville.  He  returned  messages  to  the  rajah,  recom- 
mending him  to  put  himself  on  good  terms  with  the  Dutch 
Government  and  to  hand  over  the  prisoners  whom  he  had 
kept  too  long.     The  rajah  at  last,  seeing  nothing  was  to  be 


HIS    HIGHNESS    THE    PRINCE    MANGKOE    NEGERO    VI. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     431 

gained  by  further  delay,  handed  over  the  prisoners,  now 
only  eighteen  in  number,  to  the  commander  of  H.M.S. 
Pegasus,^  and  an  indemnity  of  50,000  dollars  was  paid  to 
him. 

Mr.  Pruys  van  den  Hoeven  had  hardly  assumed  office 
when  the  Achinese,  thinking  the  moment  opportune, 
mobilised  their  forces  and  descended  on  the  Dutch  in  full 
strength,  beating  them  everywhere,  and  forcing  the  garrisons 
of  all  their  outposts  to  withdraw  to  the  coast.  The  con- 
sternation amongst  the  Dutch  was  great  ;  they  had  quite 
settled  down  in  the  country,  and  the  officers  had  their  wives 
and  famiUes  with  them  in  a  line  of  forts  and  blockhouses 
reaching  from  Kota  Raja  to  Olehleh.  These  all  had  to 
make  a  hurried  retreat,  fighting  a  losing  battle  the  whole 
time,  added  to  which  dysentery,  cholera,  and  beri-beri 
decimated  the  troops  in  a  shocking  manner.  The  struggle 
continued  for  nearly  another  ten  years  without  intermission, 
the  Dutch  army  making  no  headway,  and  the  Achinese  re- 
maining practically  as  independent  as  they  were  when  the 
war  broke  out.  The  Dutch,  however,  felt  some  hope  when  in 
1893  one  of  the  powerful  chiefs,  Toekoe  Oemar,  came  over 
to  them  and  assisted  them  to  regain  a  portion  of  the  country 
lost.  Rewards,  honours,  and  so  forth  were  showered  on 
Toekoe  Oemar,  but  in  1896,  becoming  disgusted,  he  returned 
again  to  liis  countrymen,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  whole 
country  rose,  more  determined  than  ever  to  free  themselves 
from  the  Dutch  yoke. 

General  Vetter  had  now  become  commander-in-chief,  and 
Jonkheer  Car  el  Herman  Aart  van  den  Wyk  was  Governor- 
General  ;  the  combination  was  perfect.  When  the  latter 
(who  was  one  of  the  best  Governor- Generals  the  Netherlands 
India  has  ever  had)  took  anything  in  hand  he  always  carried 
it  through  to  success,  and  he  was  determined  to  put  an  end 

1  There  is  a  book  all  about  this  affair  called,  "  The  Wreck  of  the  S.S. 
Nisero.'^ 


432  JAVA 

to  this  state  of  perpetual  warfare  which  was  costing  the 
exchequer  so  many  miUions. 

General  Vetter,  an  excellent  cool-headed  and  calmly 
calculating  man,  received  his  orders,  and  proceeding  to  the 
scene  of  action  he  attacked  the  enemy  with  a  vigour  that 
even  they  could  not  stand,  defeating  them  time  after  time, 
and  won  back  the  territory  of  Achin  once  more.  In  1899 
ToekoeOemar  died,  exhausted  by  his  struggles,  and  in  1903, 
the  new  sultan  surrendering  to  the  Dutch,  the  war  was  at 
last  at  an  end.  Whilst  the  Achin  war  was  at  its  height  the 
Sultan  of  Lombock,  who  had  been  restive  for  many  years, 
insulted  the  Governor- General  of  Netherlands  India, 
Pynacker  Hordyk,  by  refusing  to  receive  a  letter  from  him, 
and  a  small  force  was  sent  there  in  1894  to  bring  him  to  a 
better  frame  of  mind.  The  troops  landed,  and  marched  to 
Tjakra  Negora  and  Matarem  without  opposition.  Here  they 
stationed  themselves  whilst  the  Eesident  made  his  demands, 
which  were  instantly  granted.  All  suspicions  were  at  rest, 
when  on  the  night  of  the  25th  August  the  enemy  delivered 
an  attack  on  the  Dutch  camp  at  Tjakra  Negora,  causing  a 
loss  of  nearly  four  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  including 
General  van  Ham.  The  story  of  this  fight  by  the  Dutch  in 
the  middle  of  a  very  dark  night  with  an  enemy  who  had 
surrounded  them  is  one  of  the  most  thrilling  ever  told.  It 
is  a  story  one  can  read  and  read  again.  Fresh  reinforce- 
ments were  sent  forward  at  once,  and  the  battle  of  Tjakra 
Negora  was  fought,  which  ended  with  the  surrender  of  the 
prince  and  his  family. 

Troubles  have  since  occurred  in  various  parts  of  Sumatra, 
viz.,  Siak  and  Djambi,^  but  these  were  never  very  serious 
and  were  soon  quelled.  The  Dutch  East  Indies,  at  the 
present  moment  under  a  wise  and  beneficent  administration 
upon  which  it  would  be  difficult  to  improve,  are  blessed  with 
peace. 

*  The  old  Jambee,  or  Jumbi. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     433 

One  can  only  hope  that  this  may  long  so  continue.  What 
the  future  of  the  Dutch  possessions  is  to  be  it  is  difficult  to 
say,  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  envious  eyes  have 
already  been  cast  upon  them,  and  that  their  worth  is  well 
known  to  others. 

Looking  back  into  the  past,  and  recalling  all  the  incidents 
upon  which  our  own  gi'eat  Eastern  empire  has  been  built 
up,  of  those  that  have  accompanied  the  rise  of  the  Dutch 
empu'e  in  the  East  we  cannot  but  acknowledge  that  the 
Dutch  nation  had  wholly  deserved  through  their  pluck, 
thoroughness,  perseverance  and  energy  all  that  it  to-day 
possesses,  and  that  the  gracious  and  good  sovereign  who 
rules  over  it  has  a  heritage  of  which  she  may  well  be  proud, 
and  one  which  we  cannot  but  hope  she  may  never  lose. 
May  this  hope  be  fulfilled  and  may  the  Dutch  flag  long  wave 
over  these  lovely  Eastern  islands. 


NOTES   TO   CHAPTER  X 
Note  I. — Smissaert  Family. 


The  following  note  deals  only  with  those  members  of  this 
family  who  came  to  the  East.  In  1530  Johannes  Smissaert  was 
raised  to  the  nobility  by  the  Emperor  Karl  V.,  who  was  also 
Count  of  Holland.  Holland  was  then  a  repubhc,  and  the  comit 
had  sovereign  powers.  The  seat  of  the  family  in  1500  was 
Antwerp,  but  between  1550  and  1600  they  moved  to  Amsterdam, 
after  spending  a  year  or  two  (about  1576)  in  France,  where  at 
one  time  they  thought  of  establishing  themselves.  During  the 
eighteenth  century  the  family  was  a  very  important  one,  and  its 
heads  held  the  highest  positions  in  the  land. 

The  first  of  this  distinguished  family  to  come  to  Java  was 
Jonkheer  Dirk  Willem  Heiidrik  Smissaert,  who  was  a  son  of 
Hendrik  and  Jonkvrouw  Anna  Agneta  van  Brienan.  He  was 
born  at  Rhenan  on  the  2nd  May,  1751  ;  went  into  the  army 
in  1765  ;  joined  the  East  India  Company  in  1774  ;  was  "  onder 
koopman  "  imtil  1775  ;  a  member  of  the  court  of  chancery, 
J. VOL.  I.  F  F 


434  JAVA 

1777.     He  married  Johanna  Antonia  Dormieux  on  the  14th  April, 

1776,  at  Batavia.     Died  at  Batavia  on  the  3rd  December,  1779. 
A  brother  of  the  latter's,  Jonkheer  Balthasar  Smissaert,  was  bom 

at  Rhenan  on  the  30th  July,  1747.  He  arrived  in  Batavia  for 
the  East  India  Company  in  1766,  where  he  took  up  his  position  as 
"  onder  koopman."  From  this  he  gradually  rose  to  "  boek- 
honder  "  in  1772  ;  captain-general,  or  "  opperhoofd,"  of  Killas 
Ambonia  in  1782  ;  administrator  at  Batavia  in  1803  ;  president 
of  the  court  of  chancery  ("  weeskamer  ")  at  Batavia  in  1808,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  the  British  Government  under  Raffles 
both  at  Batavia  and  Somabaya.  From  the  Java  Government 
Gazette  of  the  2nd  May,  1812,  it  would  appear  that  during  April 
of  that  year  he  was  temporarily  acting  as  resident,  as  he  gave  an 
official  party,  the  toasts  of  which  were  :  (1)  "  God  Save  the 
King  "  ;  (2)  "  Prince  Regent  "  ;  (3)  "  Lord  Mnto  "  ;  (4)  "  Sir 
Samuel  Auchmuty  "  ;  (5)  "  Mr.  Raffles."  He  married  on  the 
30th  Jiuie,  1776,  at  Batavia,  Wilhelmina  Johanna  Soual.  Bal- 
thasar died  and  was  buried  at  Ambonia  in  1814,  where  Raffles 
had  sent  him  on  special  service.  He  was  a  valuable  ser\^ant  to 
the  British  Government. 

The  next  to  come  to  Java  was  Jonkheer  Marinus  Adriaan 
Perpetuus  Smissaert,  a  son  of  Jonl^heer  Mr.  Carel  Smissaert  and 
Jonkvrouw  Charlotta  Balthasarina  Godin.  He  was  born  at 
Utrecht  on  the  11th  November,  1773.  He  went  into  the  army 
and  rose  to  be  colonel  (chef  de  legion).  In  1815  he  was  engaged 
on  service  in  Java.  He  was  a  member  of  the  court  of  finance, 
1st  October,  1816  ;  inspector-general  of  the  tin  mines  in  Banca 
and  Billiton,  27th  October,  1817  ;    Resident  of  Banca,  1st  June, 

1818.  He  married  on  the  23rd  March,  1799,  Marie  Feitama. 
He  was  murdered  at  Banca  in  the  night  of  the  1st  November, 

1819.  He  held  several  orders. 

Jonkheer  Anthony  Hendrik  Smissaert,  a  son  of  Jonkheer  Dirk 
Willem  Hendrik  Smissaert,  was  born  at  Batavia  on  the  8th  March, 

1777.  He  came  to  Java  as  "  onder  koopman  "  in  1802  ;  was 
superintendent  of  woods  and  forests,  1808  ;  member  of  the 
court  of  justice,  1809  ;  Resident  of  Rembang,  1819  ;  Resident 
of  Djockja  Karta,  1823,  and  when  war  broke  out,  1825.  He 
married  on  the  5th  October,  1800,  Clara  EUsabeth,  Baroness  von 
Liebeherr.     Died  at  The  Hague  on  the  25th  October,  1832. 

Jonkheer  Jacob  Willem  Hendrik  Smissaert,  a  son  of  M.  A.  P. 
Smissaert  already  noted,  was  him  on  the  21st  November,  1802. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     435 

He  came  to  Java  as  a  midshipman  in  the  Netherlands  Imperial 
Navy,  1816  ;  became  clerk  to  Resident  of  Rembang  (A.  H. 
Smissaert),  31st  December,  1818  ;  on  special  service,  island  of 
Ceram,  1822  ;  income  tax  duties,  Magelang,  1823  ;  Resident's 
office,  Magelang,  1826  ;  vendu  meester,  Magelang,  1826  ;  secre- 
tary, Magelang,  1827  ;  public  notary,  1828  ;  secretary,  Soera- 
karta,  1830  ;  Resident  of  Bagelen,  1830  ;  Resident  of  Cheribon, 
1836  ;  Resident  of  Samarang  from  1843  till  1846,  when  he  asked 
for  his  pension.  The  night  before  he  left  Samarang  the  whole 
town  was  illuminated  and  a  grand  farewell  ball  given,  with  a 
display  of  fireworks.  On  his  return  to  Holland  he  was  given 
high  appointments  and  honours.  He  married  AHda  Maria 
Catharina  Klein  on  the  3rd  December,  1835.  Died  at  The  Hague 
on  the  13th  December,  1874. 

Jonkheer  Hendrik  Ann  Constantyn  Smissaert,  also  a  son  of 
M.  A.  P.  Smissaert  already  noted,  was  born  on  the  1st  January, 
1805.  He  came  to  Java  in  1824,  and  after  being  controleur  and 
secretary  in  Salatiga  Banjoemas  and  Pasoervean  became  assistant 
Resident  of  Probolingo  in  1838.  He  was  to  have  become  President, 
but  took  his  discharge  and  bought  the  sugar  fabrick  Besito  from 
Jonkheer  Lawick  van  Pabst.  As  mentioned  elsewhere  (see 
Personeeha  of  Macquoid,  Davidson  Co.  :  John  Davidson),  he 
married  Emma  Davidson,  a  daughter  of  John  Davidson,  on  the 
12th  January,  1818.  Died  at  The  Hague  on  the  13th  December, 
1874. 

Then  Jonkvrouw  Henriette  Marie  Claire  Smissaert,  a  daughter 
of  A.  H.  Smissaert  already  noted,  married  on  the  11th  March, 
1818,  at  Rembang,  Jonkheer  Otto  Carel  Holmberg  de  Beckfelt, 
who  was  assistant  Resident  of  Kendal  in  1822,  Resident  of 
Pekalongan,  1825,  and  Resident  of  the  Preanger  Regencies  1828. 
A  son  of  this  marriage  married  a  daughter  of  the  Acting  G.G. 
Prins.  The  other  two  daughters  of  Prms  were  married  as 
foUows  :  Betsy  to  G.  H.  Mieregaes,  of  Maclaine,  Watson  Co., 
and  Madelon  to  one  Raaders,  who  was  working  in  Java  in  the 
B.O.W.  Department. 

Jonkheer  Jacob  Willem  Hendrik  Smissaert,  a  son  of  Jonkheer 
Joan  Carel  Smissaert,  and  his  wife,  Jonkvrouw  Pauline  Dorothee 
van  Eys,  was  bom  on  the  27th  March,  1829,  came  to  India  in 
1847,  and  joined  the  Netherlands  Tradmg  Company.  He  died 
at  Sourabaya  on  the  2nd  November,  1855. 

Jonkheer  Marien  John  Smissaert,  a  son  of  Jonkheer  H.  A.  C. 

F  F  2 


436  JAVA 

Smissaert  already  noted,  was  bom  at  Pasoeroean  on  the  2nd 
February,  1838.  He  married  Mathilde  Marie  Isabelle  Rombout 
van  Mechtelina  on  the  25th  May,  1866,  at  ProboHngo.  Of  this 
marriage  there  were  nine  children,  among  whom  was  Jacob 
Willem,  who  became  notaris,  like  his  father,  and  married,  on  the 
20th  February,  1898,  Nelly  Eliza  Margo  van  Hasselt,  a  daughter 
of  the  assistant  Resident  of  Banida  Neira.  There  were  three 
daughters — ^IVIarie  Jeanne,  who  married  H.  M.  March,  a  partner 
in  Pitcairn,  Syme  Co.,  Batavia  ;  Mathilde  Marie  Isabelle,  who 
married  D.  Maclaine  Campbell,  a  partner  in  Maclaine,  Watson  and 
Co.  (see  personalia  of  that  firm) ;  and  Eliza,  who  married  Lambert 
Hesterman,  director  and  owner  of  the  tea  estate  Tji  Sampora, 
in  the  Preanger.     This  brings  us  down  to  the  present  day. 

Note  II. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  gallant  little  body  of  EngHshmen 
and  others  in  the  engagement  at  Dempet  : — 

John  Macmaster,  Scotchman,  agent  from  1822  at  Samarang  for 
Messrs.  G.  Maclaine  Co.,  Batavia.  Killed  on  the  way  back  to 
Samarang  (see  G.  Maclaine  and  Co.  personalia). 

W .  Lindesay,  Englishman,  a  son  of  W.  Lindesay,  formerly  a 
partner  in  the  house  of  Scott  and  Co.,  Penang,  1796.  Came  to  Java 
in  1820.  In  1823  commanded  Captain  John  Greg's  ship  Ennore 
Transit,  a  vessel  of  237  tons.  In  1824  he  came  to  Samarang,  and 
started  a  ship  chandlery  business,  which  he  continued  to  manage. 
Killed  on  the  field  whilst  retreating  (sometimes  spelt  Lindsey). 

J.  C.  Goldsmith,  Englishman.  Arrived  in  Java  1820.  In  1824 
commanded  Captain  Charles  Kerr's  (of  Sourabaya)  schooner 
Anna,  174  tons.  The  vessel  was  probably  at  Samarang  when  the 
trouble  at  Demak  broke  out,  as  in  September,  1825,  he  was  still 
in  command  of  the  vessel.  One  of  the  few  not  killed,  brother 
of  R.  Goldsmith,  assistant  secretary's  office,  Buitenzorg,  1813 — 
1816. 

John  Macneill,'^  Scotchman,  agent  from  1823  at  Sourabaya  for 
Messrs  G.  Maclaine  and  Co.,  Batavia  (see  Maclaine,  Watson  and 
Co.  personaha).     Not  killed. 

Peter  Jessen,  Englishman,  the  original  partner  of  the  firm  of 
Jessen,  Trail  and  Co.,  Batavia  (see  Jessen,  Trail  and  Co.  personalia). 

1  In  Major  Louw's  "  History  of  the  War  "  John  Macneill's  name  does 
not  appear,  but  in  another  it  does.  His  name  has  therefore  been  included 
here. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     437 

Happened  to  be  passing  through  Samarang  when  the  troubles 
broke  out  at  Demak.     Not  killed, 

J .  Bremner,  Englishman,  agent  at  Samarang  for  Thompson, 
Wliiteman  and  Co.,  of  Batavia,  and  in  1826  Thompson,  Roberta 
a.nd  Co.     Not  killed,  but  wounded  by  a  lance. 

George  Sutton,  Englishman.  Was  in  the  Batavia  house  of 
Addison  and  Co.  and  their  agent  at  Samarang.  Killed  on  the  way 
back  to  Samarang. 

Robert  Barrows,  Englishman.  Was  in  the  Batavia  house  of 
A.  L.  Forester  and  Co.,  and  probably  their  agent  at  Samarang. 
Killed  on  the  way  back  to  Samarang. 

Lewis  Cameron,  Englishman.  Was  in  the  Batavia  house  of 
Deans  and  Co.,  and  probably  their  agent  at  Samarang.  Killed  on 
the  field  whilst  retreating. 

Hammond,  Englishman.  Was  in  the  Batavia  house  of  IVIiln, 
Haswell  and  Co.  ;  probably  was  at  Samarang  on  a  visit.  Killed 
on  the  field. 

Spencer,  Englishman.  Was  an  employee  of  Macquoid,  David- 
son and  Co.     Not  killed. 

Philip  Willis,  Englishman.  Was  employed  by  John  Macmaster 
(see  G.  Maclaine  and  Co.  personalia).  Killed  on  the  field  whilst 
retreating, 

Russell  Charles  Page,  Englishman.  Was  a  partner  in  the 
Batavia  mercantile  house  of  Stewart,  Turing  and  Co.  in  1823,  which 
was  the  year  he  came  to  Java.  Whether  he  was  only  on  a  trip 
to  Samarang  in  1825,  when  the  war  broke  out,  or  whether  he  had 
ah'eady  opened  a  branch  for  them  is  not  certain,  but  as  Stewart, 
Turing  and  Co.  had  no  interests  in  Samarang,  it  is  the  more  likely 
he  was  only  on  a  trip.  In  1826,  when  Stewart,  Turing  and  Co.  had 
closed,  R.  C.  Page  came  to  reside  at  Samarang,  but  left  in  1828 
temporarily.  "  R.  C.  Page  is  leaving  Java  and  offers  his  house 
and  garden  in  Bodjong  near  Samarang  for  sale  or  to  hire  with  or 
without  furniture  "  {Java  Comant,  1st  January,  1828).  When 
he  returned  to  Java  in  1830  he  went  to  live  on  a  coffee  estate 
near  Salatiga,  which  he  had  apparently  bought.  This  estate  was 
managed  by  his  son  Joseph  le  Page  from  1836  to  1845  ;  it  was 
then  managed  by  Philip  Terence  Lacourt  for  a  couple  of  years. 
R.  C,  Page  left  Java  for  good  in  1831  ;  he  must  have  come  to  Java 
a  rather  elderly  man, 

C.  Chatoir,  Armenian  working  in  the  merchant's  office  of  Jordan 
Johannes.     Killed  on  the  field. 


438  JAVA 

J.  Martherus,  Armenian.  Came  to  Java  in  1824  and  worked  in 
Johannes'  office.  His  brother,  G.  Martherus,  captained  and 
owned  a  ship  in  1825  called  the  Ondernemer,  180  tons,  and  was 
afterwards  owner  of  the  Vrouwe  Helena,  and  later  on  a  merchant 
at  Sourabaya.     Killed  on  the  way  back  to  Samarang. 

F.  A.  Brandt,  Dutchman.  Formerly  the  partner  of  Roms- 
winckel  and  Brandt,  Batavia ;  afterwards  partner  in  A.  E. 
Soerman  and  Co.,  Batavia  ;  was  probably  on  a  visit  to  Samarang 
to  his  brother,  H.  A.  Brandt,  who  was  a  schoolmaster  of  the  first 
class  there.     Killed  on  the  field. 

J.  Cramer,  Dutchman.  Employed  in  the  Dutch  Government 
service.     Killed  on  the  field. 

C.  Lorch  (L.  F.  C),  Dutchman.  Came  to  Java  in  1816.  In 
1820  was  trading  from  Pekalongang  with  his  own  ship,  the 
Jacoba  Ambrosina,  128  tons.  In  1821  this  ship  was  sent  to  sea 
in  command  of  Captain  J.  A.  Lang ;  Lorch  remained  himself  at 
Pekalongang  and  did  a  merchant's  business.  In  1822  he  removed 
to  Samarang  and  did  a  small  business  there,  running  the  ship  on 
joint  account  with  Lang.  In  1823  he  took  to  the  sea  again,  and 
became  owner  once  more  of  the  ship.  He  continued  at  sea  until 
1825,  Samarang  being  his  headquarters.  He  then  settled  on 
shore,  again  sending  his  ship  to  sea  in  command  of  A.  G.  de  Kater. 
Killed  on  the  field. 

J.  F.  Ker sting,  Dutchmen.  Controller  in  the  Binnenlandsche 
Bestuur,  or  Dutch  Government  Service  of  the  Interior.  Killed 
on  the  field. 

There  were  three  other  Dutchmen — Van  Braak,  Henrich,  and 
Paulus — who  were  also  said  to  have  taken  part  in  this  fight,  and 
the  last  two  named  returned  alive  ;  but  Controller  Van  Braak  was 
taken  prisoner.  The  prisoners  were  usually  ground  to  death  in 
the  rice  blocks. 

Note  III. — Dezentje. 

August  Jan  Casper  Dezentje  was  of  French  descent,  and  like 
many  other  Frenchmen,  finding  his  way  to  Batavia,  but  how  is 
not  quite  clear,  during  the  East  India  Company's  rule  about 
1797 — 8.  At  first  he  did  a  small  wine  business  at  Batavia,  but 
about  1800,  when  recruits  for  the  army  were  being  sought,  he 
joined  as  a  lieutenant,  and  was  sent  to  Soerakarta  to  join  the 
garrison  there.     From  all  accounts  he  must  have  been  a  very 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     439 

fine  specimen  of  a  man.  At  Soerakarta  he  married,  it  seems,  a 
Javan  lady,  and  shortly  afterwards  was  appointed  adjutant  to 
the  emperor's  "  legion."  In  1812  he  retired  from  this  post  to 
make  room  for  an  English  officer,  and  took  an  estate  called  Ampel 
which  he  had  hired  from  the  emperor.  Here  he  built  himself 
a  fine  house  and  settled  down.  When  the  British  army  of 
occupation  left  Java  in  1816  he  took  his  final  discharge  from  the 
Dutch  army,  to  which  he  was  still  nominally  attached. 

Whilst  at  Solo  a  son  was  born  who  was  called  Johannes 
Augustinus,  one  of  the  greatest  characters  Java  has  ever  seen, 
and  who  eventually,  owing  to  the  influence  of  his  father,  became 
a  greater  persona  grata  at  the  native  court  than  the  former  was 
himself.  In  1820  "  Augustinus,"  as  he  was  generally  called, 
owned  a  considerable  number  of  the  emperor's  estates,  and  was 
shortly  afterwards  drawing  an  income  of  £25,000  a  year.  When 
the  Java  war  broke  out  in  1825  the  neutrahty  of  the  emperor  was 
greatly  desired  by  General  de  Kock,  who  personally  visited  Solo 
with  a  view  to  arranging  it.  Through  the  indirect  assistance 
of  the  Dezentjes  he  achieved  his  purpose.  At  the  same  time 
Augustinus  raised  a  corps  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  which  he 
equipped  and  kept  in  the  field  at  his  own  expense,  thereby 
rendering  a  service  to  the  commander-in-chief  which  the  Dutch 
Government  never  forgot  as  long  as  he  Hved,  shutting  their  eyes 
afterwards  at  all  his  vagaries  and  extravagances  in  Mid  Java, 
which  led  the  native  population  to  suppose  he  was  almost  an 
independent  prince.  From  worry  or  trouble,  or  more  hkely 
exposure  in  the  field,  August  Jan  died  at  Ampel  on  the  2nd 
December,  1825.  The  Java  war  continuing  and  the  whole  of 
Mid  Java  being  in  a  state  of  uproar,  Augustinus  built  a  fort  at 
Ampel  round  his  dwelling-houses  in  1826,  and  to  protect  his 
little  army  borrowed  two  cannon  from  the  Dutch  army.  When 
hard  pressed  in  the  field  his  men  retired  to  the  fort  behind  these 
guns,  which  the  enemy  had  a  considerable  respect  for.  When 
the  war  was  over  Augustinus  was  rewarded  for  his  services  by 
the  order  of  the  Netherlands  Lion  ;  he  then  settled  down  to 
attend  once  more  to  his  estates,  which  had  been  more  or  less 
ruined  during  the  war,  in  consequence  of  which  he  thought  fit 
to  enter  a  claim  on  one  or  more  of  the  princes  of  the  Solo  court 
for  22,000  guilders.  The  claim  was  of  course  never  paid,  but 
Dezentje's  complaisance  in  waiving  it  gave  him — if  it  were 
possible — still  more  power  at  court,  which  perhaps  after  all  was 


440  JAVA 

his  only  reason  for  entering  it.  His  style  and  mode  of  living  at 
this  moment  was  almost  equal  in  magnificence  to  the  emperor's, 
and  he  dispensed  hospitality  with  a  royal  and  lavish  hand.  If 
there  is  any  doubt  of  this  a  perusal  of  Gilham  Maclaine's  account 
of  his  visit  to  Dezentje  (given  later  on)  will  dispel  it.  He  enter- 
tained the  princes,  even  the  emperor  himself,  with  whom  he  was 
at  last  on  such  close  terms  of  intimacy  that  he  took  his  sister  in 
marriage.  The  wedding  was  celebrated  at  the  hraton  in  Solo  with 
great  magnificence— lacs,  it  is  said,  being  expended  on  the  feasts. 
After  his  wedding  neither  he  nor  his  princess  ever  left  Ampel 
without  a  cavalcade  of  men  on  horseback  and  several  dozens  of 
slaves  following.  His  sentries  called  the  guard  out  to  salute 
as  he  passed  in  or  out  of  the  fort.  Ampel  was  in  fact  a  small 
royal  residence,  whilst  the  power  that  was  wielded  here  was  only 
second  to  the  emperor's  (at  least  so  some  said).  From  1822,  when 
Augustinus  had  coffee  to  dispose  of  from  his  estates,  Gilliam 
Maclaine  had  acted  as  agent  for  him,  the  two  having  struck  up  a 
friendship  when  the  latter  was  managing  the  coffee  estate  of 
Melamboug,  which  was  near.  The  coffee  was  received  at  Sama- 
rang  on  behalf  of  Dezentje  by  John  Macmaster  at  first,  and  when 
he  was  killed,  by  John  Macneill.  He  was  allowed  almost  an 
unlimited  credit,  but  was  nevertheless  always  in  difficulties,  and 
more  than  once  did  G.  Maclaine  proceed  to  Ampel  to  assist  him 
to  straighten  out  his  affairs. 

The  last  time  G.  Maclaine  went  there  at  Dezentje's  request 
was  with  his  wife,  and  he  was  promised  and  received  a  royal 
welcome.  Until  the  fifties  did  the  connection  of  the  Dezentjes 
with  G.  Maclaine's  firm  continue. 

The  Dezentjes  have  still  many  descendants  Hving  in  Java  near 
the  native  court.  Some  have  held  high  positions,  but  none  have 
risen  like  their  distinguished  grandfather. 

The  estate  of  Ampel,  with  its  still  existing  old  residence  and 
fort,  has  reverted  once  more  to  the  native  court,  but  each  succes- 
sive emperor  makes  it  a  sine  qua  non  that  it  shall  be  administered 
by  a  Dezentje,  and  it  is  considered  as  an  hereditary  position  by 
their  family. 

IV. — Notes  on  certain  Persons  who  took  part  in  the  Java 
War,  ending  in  1830. 

Hendrik  Merkus  de  Kock,  born  at  Hensden  .     1779 

In  French  service  as  2nd  lieutenant  of  General 

Daendel's  staff 1794 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     441 


Hendrik  Merkus  de  Kock — continued. 

In  Dutch  civil  service  .....  1800 
1st  lieutenant  by  the  fleet  ....      1800 

Chief  of  staff  in  squadron  under  Admiral  VerheuU     1804 

East  India 1806 

Adjutant-general  to  Governor-General  Wiese       .      1807 
Colonel  commandant  East  Java  .  .  .      1808 

Brigadier  to  army  and  commandant  Samarang 

division        .......      1809 

Chief  of  the  general  staff  .  .  .  .  .1811 

Taken  prisoner         .  .  .  .  .  .1811 

Campaign  against  French  in  Europe  .  .    1813 — 1815 

Colonel  of  8th  Battalion  infantry        .  .  .      1814 

Commandant  of  Fort  Hertogenbosch  .  .1814 

Major-general  .  .  .  .  .  .1815 

Returns  to  East  Indies     .  .  .  .  .1817 

Governor  of  Moluccas        .  .  .  .  .1818 

Commandant  of  troops     .  .  .  .  .1819 

Commander-in-chief  of  Palembang  expedition  .  1821 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  East  Indian  possessions.  1822 
Commander-in-chief    of     the     forces    in    Mid 

Java 1825—1830 

Acting  Governor-General  ....      1826 

Lieutenant  Governor-General    .  .  .  .1826 

Resigned  1830 

Returned  to  Holland 1830 

Commander-in-chief  in  Zealand  .  .  .1831 

Created  baron  ......      1835 

Minister  of  Interior  .  .  .  .  .1836 

Resigned  ......      1841 

Died  at  St.  Gravenhage    .....      1842 

Order  of  Unie,  1807  ;  Commander  of  that  order,  1808. 
Commander  de   Reunie,    1813.     Two   orders,   M.W.O., 
1813  and  1821.     Grand  Cross,  1830.     Metal  Cross,  1832. 
Grand  Cross,  Netherlands  Lion,  1841. 
Governor-General  de  Kock's  portrait  is  to  be  seen  at  Weltwreden 

in  the  building  of  the  Masonic  lodge,  of  which  institution  he  was 

Grand  Master. 

Frans  David  Cochitjs,  born  at  Valkenburg     .  .     1787 

Entered  Engineers  corps  .....      1804 

Lieutenant      .  .  .  .  .  .  .1809 

Lieutenant  on  staff  in  French  service  .  .      1810 

2nd  captain     .......      1811 

1st  captain      .......      1812 

In  French  service ;  took  part  in  capture 
of  Leipzig  and  Lutzen  and  subsequent 
operations    ......    1813 — 1814 


442 


JAVA 


Prans  Daved  Cochius — continued. 

In  Dutch  service      ......      1814 

Intends  to  proceed  East  Indies.  .  .  .     1814 

Quatre  Bras    .......      1815 

Arrives  Java  .......      1816 

Major,  Engineers 1817 

Lieutenant-colonel,  Engineers   .  .  .  .1821 

Palembang 1821 

Adjunct  director  of  fortifications        .  .  .      1822 

Colonel,  Engineers   ......      1825 

Java  war 1825—1830 

Pensioned 1829 

Again  in  activity  with  army  in  field  .  .  .      1830 

Commander-in-chief  of  army  in  the  field     .  .      1830 

Commandant  observation  corps  .  .  .1831 

Major-general 1832 

Commander-in-chief  of  Army    ....      1835 
Commissaris  of  Government,  west  coast  Sumatra .      1837 

Capture  of  Bondjol 1837 

Lieutenant-general  ......      1843 

Pensioned  and  thanked  by  Government  for  his 

lengthy  and  valuable  services  .  .  .      1847 

Order  M.W.,  1822.  Honourably  mentioned  in  des- 
patches, 22nd  November,  1828.  Java  medal,  1831. 
Commander  M.W.O.,  1838.  Adjutant  to  King,  26th 
February,  1841. 

Uncle  of  Frederic  Cochius,  employee  of  Messrs.  Macneill  Co., 
Samarang,  Java,  1889 — 1902,  and  later  Head  of  Messrs.  Dunlop 
and  Kolff,  Batavia,  Java,  1902—1909. 


Albert   Hendrik   Wendelin   de   Kocz,   bom   at 
Sourabaya,  20th  March         .... 

2nd  Ueutenant  and  adjutant  commander-in-chief 

1st  lieutenant 

Adjutant  of  Governor-General 

Java  war         ......    1825 

Captain 

Sumatra  west  coast 

To  Holland     . 

Returns  to  Java 

Chief  of  stafif,  Sumatra  west  coast 

Major  by  staff 

Lieutenant-Colonel  and  mihtary  commandant  of 

Palembang  whilst  acting  Resident 
Resident  of  Bezoekie  and  Commissioner  for  Bali 
Second  expedition,  Bali    .... 


1808 
1824 
1828 
1830 
-1830 
1832 
1833 
1836 
1838 
1838 
1838 

1841 

1848 
1848 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     443 

Albert  Hendrik  Wendelin  de  Kock — continued. 

Resident  of  Jogjakarta     .....      1848 

Java    medal,     1831.     Orders    M.W.O.,     1834. 
Netherlands  Lion,  1847.     Star  of  "  Eikenkroon,"  1856. 


Etienne  Joseph  Wagener,  born  at  Luxemburg 
Soldier  by  108th  Regiment  infantry 
Corporal 
Fourier  . 
Sergeant 
2nd  lieutenant 
1st  lieutenant 

Wounded  at  Waterloo  in  left  arm 
Transferred  to  army  in  Java 
Arrived  Batavia 
Expedition  to  Palembang 
Died  at  Buitenzorg 


1790 

1808 
1809 
1809 
1810 
1812 
1813 
1815 
1818 
1818 
1821 
1828 


JoHAN  Georg  Otto  Stuart  von  ScnairDT  atjf  Alten- 

STADT,  born  Siut  Oedenrode,  5th  May     .  .      1806 

Military  School,  Samarang         ....      1820 

2nd  heutenant 1823 

Java  war  .  .  .  .  .  .    1825 — 1830 

1st  lieutenant  ......      1829 

Adjutant  to  Governor-General  ....      1832 

Acting  assistant  Resident  of  Keboemen      .  .      1833 

Definitely  appointed  Resident  of  Keboemen         .      1837 
Resident  of  Bagelen  ....    1842 — 1849 

Java  medal. 


Leonard  Petrus  Joseph  du  Bus  de  Gisignies,  born 
1st  March  in  Castle  Dottignies  in  East  Flanders 

Major  of  Doorink,  by  forced  appointment  from 
Napoleon     ....... 

Member  of  Second  House  of  Parliament      .    1819- 

Governor  of  Antwerp        ..... 

Governor  of  South  Brabant       .... 

King  William  I.  sent  him  as  commissary-general 
to  Java,  where  he  remained  during  whole  war, 
being  strongly  against  redoubt  system     . 


1780 

1813 
-1820 
1820 
1823 


1825 


In  the  front  porch  of  the  Roman  Catholic  cathedral  at 
Weltwreden  a  memorial  stone  has  been  placed  in  memoriam 
to  van  du  Bus  as  the  man  who  estabhshed  the  first  poor  house 
at  Batavia. 


444  JAVA 

The  following  is  the  reading  on  the  stone  : — 

D.   0.   M. 
Et  Piae  Memoriae. 


Praenobilis  viri  Leonardi  Petri  Josephi  Vicecomitis 
DU  Bus,  Domini  De  Gisignies  D  in  Belleghem,  Heyl- 
Broeck,  Oostmalle,  Sawangen,  etc. 

In    Patriis    Finibus    Statuum     GeneraHum,    secundae 
camarae    Legati    Deinde    Praesidio   Provinciae    Ant- 
exinde     Brabantiae     meridionalis      Guber- 


verpiae 
natoris. 


Qui  Anno  M.  Dccc.  XXV. 


Domi  quinque  per  annos  Summam  administrarat 
Rerum.  Has  suis  sub  auspiciis  per  annos  exstrui 
Christo  Deo  Curavit  Aedes,  Memorque  ut  esset 
Gratae  Hoc  in  imperio  commemorationis. 

Fundum  sawangan  Javanen  sem  in  Praedia  sua  merito 
adscripset   Post   navatam   FeHciter   Rempublicam 

In  Patria  Redux. 

Maximo  ordinis  Leonis  Begici  insigni  ornatus  supremum 
obiit  diem  anno  M.  Dccc.  XLIX.  die  XXXI  M.  A.  11. 

Dominio  suo  in  Oostmalle  prope  Antverpiam  requiescit. 


George  Gardner,  born  in  London,  5th  December 
2nd  lieutenant,  Paris,  9th  August 
2nd  heutenant  dragoons,  5th  April     . 
1st  lieutenant,  18th  April 
Attached  East  Indies  Cavalry,  25th  May 
Embarked,  7th  October    . 
Died  at  Mergaloenjoe,  1st  July 
Fought  in  Germany 
Fought  in  France     .... 
Fought  at  Waterloo 

Order  M.W.O. 


1790 
1814 
1815 
1820 
1824 
1824 
1827 
1813 
1814 
1815 


Johannes  Nicolaas  de  Groot,  born  at  Amsterdam, 

26th  October 1796 

Soldier,  27th  August 1817 

Arrived  at  Batavia,  28th  August        .  .  .  1818 

21st  BattaHon  infantry,  1st  September        .  .  1818 


■^^*i^ 


PAXGERAN"    HARIU    POERSAXAGOKO.       (COLONEL-COMMAXDAXT    OF    THE 
ARMY    OF    THE    SUSUHUXAX    OF    SOLO.) 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     445 


Johannes  Nicolaas  de  Groot — ccmtinued. 

Corporal,  11th  April 1819 

Fourier,  6th  April 1823 

Sergeant-major,  11th  October   ....      1827 
2nd  lieutenant,  8th  August        .  .  .  .1828 

Pensioned,  18th  April 1836 

Fought  at  Cheribon  ....    1818—1820 

Fought  at  Banca 1821 — 1822 

Fought  in  Java 1828 — 1830 

Java  medal. 
A  great  number  of  de  Groots  still  reside  in  Java,  many  being 

in  Government  employ. 


JoHAN  Alphonse  Victor  DE  Sturler,  born  at  Thiel, 
15th  September    .... 
2nd  lieutenant  hussars,  19th  April 
1st  lieutenant,  4th  December     . 
Adjutant  to  Governor-General,  14th  May 
Captain,  31st  July   .... 
Died  at  Buitenzorg,  5th  July    . 

Java  medal. 


1804 
1826 
1830 
1833 
1833 
1836 


BENJAivnN  BiscHOFr,  bom   at  's  Gravenhage,   22nd 

September  .......      1787 

Cadet  marines,  3rd  October       .  .  .  .1801 

2nd  lieutenant  army,  26th  March       .  .  .      1805 

1st  lieutenant  on  General  Daendel's  staff,  17th 

February 1807 

Captain  of  dragoons,  Java,  16th  May  .  .      1808 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  24th  June  ....      1809 
Arrived  in  Java,  March    .  .  .  .  .1816 

Colonel  5th  Regiment,  1st  January    .  .  .      1817 

Inspector  of  army,  East  India,  20th  July   .  ,      1818 

Governor  of  Macassar,  14th  December         .  .      1824 

Major-general  and  commander-in-chief  of  army, 

nth  September 1828 

Arrived  at  Batavia,  13th  May  .  .  .  .1829 

Died  at  Tanjore,  7th  July  .  .  .  .1829 

At  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  1802  to  1806,  when  taken  by  the 
EngHsh,  he  returned  to  Holland.  He  fought  here  against  the 
English  in  General  Janssen's  corps. 

Thoivias     Jackson,     born     at     Geldersheim,     20th 

September 1797 

Cadet,  6th  June 1814 

Corporal,  21st  July 1815 


446 


JAVA 


Thomas  Jackson — continued. 
2nd  lieutenant,  16th  August 
Transferred  to   East  Indies ;    arrived 

March  .... 

Placed  by  18th  Division,  11th  April 
1st  lieutenant,  28th  August 
Captain,  26th  January 
Major,  5th  October 
Pensioned  in  Java,  8th  March  . 
Fought  in  France     . 
Java  war         .... 


.      1817 
there  in 

1829 
1829 
1829 
1834 
1839 
1842 
1815 
1829—1830 


JoNKHEER  Jan  Herman  van  der  Wyck, 

Zutphen,  Ist  February 
Cadet,  1st  February 
2nd  lieutenant  with  engineers,  7th  May 
Adjutant  to  commandant  in  field,  H.  J 

Wyck,  4th  May    .... 
Arrived  Batavia,  14th  May 
Captain,  17th  December  . 
At  Storming  of  Palembang,  June 
At  Banca  affair 
At  Palembang 
Major,  9th  January 
At  Boni  affair 
Java  war 

Lieutenant-colonel,  17th  July 
Colonel,  29th  January 
Major-general,  29th  June 


bom  at 

.   1797 
.   1814 
.   1814 
van  der 

.  1815 
.  1816 
.  1817 
.  1819 
.  1820 
.  1821 
.  1825 
.  1825 
.  1825—1830 
.  1828 
.  1834 
.   1842 

Commander-in-chief  of  Indian  army,  17th  Decem- 
ber       1847 

Commanded  at  expedition  to  Bali      .  .  .      1848 

Resigned,  2nd  February   .....      1849 
Thanked  by  H.M.   the  King  for  valuable  services. 

Orders,  M.W.O.,  Netherlands  Lion.     Adjutant  to  H.M. 

the    King.     Java    Medal.     Frequently    mentioned    in 

despatches. 

His  sons,  who  all  distinguished  themselves,  were  Jonkheers 
Carel  Herman  Aart  van  der  Wyck,  Governor-General  of  Nether- 
lands India,  1893 — 1899  ;  Otto  van  der  Wyck,  Vice-President  of 
Council  ;  Ivan  der  Wyck,  commander-in-chief  Netherlands 
Indian^Army ;  H.  L.  van  der  Wyck,  the  well-known  sugar 
planter. 

The  son  of  the  Governor-General  is  H.  C.  van  der  Wyck,  and 
lives  in  Jogjokarta,  He  was  born  at  Solo  whilst  his  father  was 
Resident  there.     He  began  life  in  Government  service  in  Holland, 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM   1816     447 

but  left  this  to  become  superintendent  of  the  numerous  tobacco 
and  sugar  estates  the  family  own  in  Java,  viz.,  Klattensche 
Culture  Company,  Wedi  Birit  Company,  Lanvoe  Company, 
Delangoe  Sugar  Company,  Japara  Sugar  Company,  and  Poen- 
doeng  sugar  estate. 

There  was  also  Jonkheer  J.  C.  W.  D.  A.  van  der  Wyck,  at 
Tasik  Malaja,  1810. 


Jan  Baptist  Cleerens,  born  at  Antwerp,  27th  August 
Employed  with  army  in  Spain,   administration 

department,  8th  November    . 
Returned  to  Holland         .... 

Placed  in  service  at  Brussels  with  mobile  army 
Waterloo  ...... 

Employed  at  headquarters  under  Marshal  Bliicher 

in  charge  of  commissariat  of  Prussian  army 
Arrived  at  Batavia,  30th  August 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  A.D.C.  to  Governor-General 

26th  April 

Commandant  at  Buitenzorg,  20th  June 

Java  war 

Chief  of  the  staff 

Returned  to  Holland 

Formed  a  corps  called 

18th  November  . 
Returned  to  Java  . 
Commandant  of  Sumatra 

ruary 
Pensioned,  31st  October 

Chamberlain    to    H.M 


1785 

1808 
1814 
1815 
1815 

1815 
1817 

1821 
1821 
1825—1830 
1831 
1831 


Jagers  van  Cleerens, 


1831 
1835 


west  coast,  26th  Feb- 

1836 
1837 
the  King,  1815.  Orders, 
M.W.O.,  1828,  Netherlands  Lion,  1831,  Java  medal, 
Metal  cross. 


DiEDRicH  BoRNEMAN,  born  in  Hanover,  25th  June  . 

Hanover  Hussars,  3rd  April       .... 

Cornet,  8th  September      ..... 

1st  heutenant,  12th  December  .... 

Field  operations  in  Germany,  Brabant,  and  France 

1813- 

Arrived  at  Batavia,  26th  April 

With  cavalry  ....... 

With  Bengal  Lancers  at  Cheribon,  1st  April,  and 
mentioned  in  despatches        .... 

Commandant  of  corps  of  Mounted  Infantry 
Volmiteers  of  Enghshmen  formed  at  Samarang, 
27th  August 


1794 
1813 
1813 
1813 

-1814 
1816 
[blank] 

1818 


1825 


448 


JAVA 


Died  RICH  Borneman — continued. 

Sounded    retreat    for    Englishmen    to    retire    at 
Demak,  but  seven  of  them  killed,  4th  Septem- 
ber     ........      1823 

Java  war  ......    1825 — 1830 

Died  at  Samarang  and  buried  on  Gregardji  Hill, 

24th  July 1833 

Order  M.W.O. 


Andreas  Victor  Michiels,  born  at  Maastricht,  30th 

April  ..... 
2nd  lieutenant  in  French  service 
2nd  lieutenant  in  Dutch  service 
Field  operations,  France  . 
1st  lieutenant,  22nd  May 
Waterloo 

Arrived  at  Batavia,  3rd  July 
Captain,  19th  August 
Cheribon  affair,  van  Pahmanan 
Major,  8th  May 
Java  war 

Sumatra  west  coast . 
Lieutenant-colonel,  17th  May 
Expedition  to  Krawang    . 
Expedition  to  Djambi 
Commandant,  Sumatra  west  coast 
Promoted  colonel  for  capture   of  Bondjol, 

October 
Civil  and  military  governor,  Sumatra  west 

29th  October         .... 
Major-General,  14th  September 
Field  operations,  Sumatra  west  coast 
Commander-in-chief  of  army  of  Netherlands  India 

till   arrival   of   Lieutenant-General   the   Duke 

Bernhard  van  Saksen  Weimar  Eisenach,  20th 

February     ....... 

Died  from  wounds  in  leg,  received  at  Kasoemba 

Bah,  25th  May 

Orders  :  M.W.O. ,  1828  ;  Netherlands  Lion, 
Adjutant  G.G.  Honourably  mentioned  in  despatches 
for  Sumatra,  8th  May,  1832,  and  Padang,  1841.  Java 
medal.     Adjutant  to  H.M.  the  King. 

List  of  Officers  who  distinguished  themselves  not  other- 
wise mentioned  (1825 — 1830). 

P.  la  Bordes  J.  A.  Hoorn  H.  M.  de  Kock 

H.  E.  A.  Carteret  A.  F.  Kihan  G.  A.  van  Leeuwen 


1797 

1814 

1814 

1814 

1815 

1815 

1817 

1818 

1818 

1827 

1825—1830 

1831—1832 

.      1832 

.      1832 

.      1833 

.      1837 

3rd 

.      1837 
coast, 

.      1837 

.      1843 

1844—1845 


1849 


1849 
1832. 


JAVA  UNDER  DUTCH  RULE  FROM  1816     449 


List  of  Officers — continued. 


A.  V.  Michiels 
J.  W.  J.  Mossel 
J.  A.  Phitzinger 

B.  SoUewyn 

J.  B.  Theunissen 

C.  F.  WilHch 

J.  P.  de  Montaign 
J.  J.  A  de  Brabant 
P.  H.  Barends 
J.  T.  A.  van  der 

Busch 
H.  V.  van  Ingen 
W.  Meulenhoff 
L.  van  Meyer 
C.  de  Munck 
F.  Beaufort 
F.  C.  J.  van  Swicten 


J.  A.  van  der  Spek 
J.  Moreau 

—  Wolf 

H.  J.  J.  Engelbert 
Van  Beevervoode 
K.  Rietveld 
"H,  de  Bruin 
J.  Wentzel 
P.  van  Dyk 
S.  P.  du  Moulin 
J.  P.  Keyser 
J.  de  Gelder 
A.  Paardekoper 
F.  Martin 
J.  A.  Rombout 
J.  W.  Muller 

—  Zaalberg 


F.  A.  L.  Jackson 
J.  Vermeer 
A.  V.  Michiels 
H.  M.  Lange 
L.  N.  Blondeau 

—  CoUard 

—  Engelberts 
C.  F.  Heine 
T.  de  Jager 
T.  Lucassen 
F.  C.  Nauman 
K.  C.  Severyn 
Taetsoon  Amerangan 

—  Vogel 
Van  der  Tak 
Van  der  Veen 

J.  Le  Bronde  Vexela 


Note. — These  Usts  were  compiled  from  Major  Louw's  "  History 
of  the  Java  War." 


Note  V. — Sarawak. 

James  Brooke  was  born  at  Benares  on  the  29th  April,  1803, 
where  his  father  was  a  servant  of  the  Enghsh  East  India  Company. 
Li  1815  he  was  sent  to  England  for  his  education,  but  was  back 
in  India  in  1819  as  lieutenant  in  the  army,  and  took  part  in  the 
Burmah  war  of  1825,  when  he  was  wounded.  In  1835  on  his 
father's  death  he  began  his  cruises  in  the  Eastern  Archipelago. 

The  area  of  Sarawak  is  about  50,000  square  miles,  with  a  sea- 
board of  about  400  miles,  and  a  population  of  some  half  a  million. 
Sago  is  its  staple  product.  Pepper,  gambler,  tea  and  coffee  are 
also  grown.  The  soil  seems  to  be  particularly  adapted  to  rubber. 
Land  is  almost  free  to  the  natives,  so  they  are  continually  increas- 
ing the  area  under  cultivation.  Pineapples  and  other  fruits 
flourish  exceedingly,  and  gold,  silver,  antimony  and  coal  are 
worked  successfully  and  exported  in  fair  quantities.  Sarawak 
is  a  great  country  for  woods,  some  of  them  being  durable  and 
hard.     Oil  is  being  obtained  daily,  and  is  available  for  shipping. 

The  population,  like  all  the  trading  centres  in  these  seas,  is  a 

mixed  one.     Its  industries  are  many.     It  makes  its  own  clothes 

and   weapons,   the  latter  bemg   often   inlaid   and   of  beautiful 

design.     The  natives  build  their  own  boats,  which  can  carry 

J. — VOL.   I.  G  « 


450  JAVA 

crews  of  up  to  eighty  men.  They  rarely  if  ever  suffer  for  want  of 
food.  They  grow  rice,  maize,  and  other  crops,  and  work  jungle 
products,  such  as  gutta.  Cultivation  and  trade  have  increased. 
The  revenue  and  trade  reports  are  steadily  progressing. 

In  1890  the  revenue  was  |413,113  ;  in  1911  it  was  $420,420. 

In  1890  the  expenditure  was  $362,779 ;  in  1911  it  was 
$1,341,761. 

In  1896  the  imports  were  £227,000;  in  1911  they  were  over 
£1,000,000. 

In  1896  the  exports  were  £242,000  ;  in  1911  they  were  over 
£1,300,000. 

There  is  no  pubUc  debt. 

Sarawak  and  British  North  Borneo  have  an  immense  future 
before  them.  A  larger  permanent,  or  semi-permanent,  European 
population,  as  in  Java,  is,  however,  still  required.  The  importa- 
tion of  the  natives  in  considerable  numbers  into  the  latter  country 
should  be  a  matter  for  consideration  by  the  Council. 


CHAPTER  XI 

The  Towns  in  Java  and  the  Neighbouring  Lands,  with 
A  Note  on  the  Batavia  and  Preanger  Lands 

Batavia — before  the  coming  op  the  Dutch 

CALLED    JaCATRA. 

The  first  English  at  Batavia. — The  Englishman  Sir  Henry 
Middleton  paid  a  flying  visit  to  Jacatra  in  1604,  which  was 
followed  by  a  more  formal  call  by  William  Keeling,  of  Cocos 
Keeling  fame,  on  the  8th  January,  1609.     This,  according 
to  J.  Hageman  in  his  "  De  Engelschen  of  Java,"  was  the 
first  time  the  English  flag  was  shown  here.     Keeling  appears 
to  have  been  well  received  by  the  Sultan,  to  whom  he  sold 
some  gunpowder,  after  which  he  left  on  the  10th  January. 
A  year  later  David  Middleton,  the  second  of  the  three  fear- 
less brothers  who  spent  their  lives  in  Eastern  Seas  on  behalf 
of  the  Company,  visited  Jacatra.     A  factory  was  now  estab- 
lished here  in  order  that  a  trade  might  be  opened  with  the 
inhabitants.     It  was  quite  a  humble  building,  being  built 
of  bamboo,  with  a  thatched  roof.^ 

The  Dutch  came  to  Jacatra  the  year  following,  and  also 
built  a  factory  and  their  first  small  fort.^ 

There  was  a  long  struggle  for  supremacy  at  Jacatra 
between  the  English  and  the  Dutch,  and  as  at  Bantam,  so 
here,  continual  quarrels,  everlasting  bickerings,  much 
jealousy,  and  even  bloody  fights  occurred.  The  English, 
however,  managed  to  hold  their  own,  although  with  some 

>  I  have  seen  it  said  that  it  was  situated  near  where  the  Hong  Kong  and 
Shanghai  Bank  now  stands  near  the  bridge  of  Passer  Pisang. 

2  It  is  said  that  this  was  built  on  the  plain  where  now  stands  the  premises 
at  present  occupied  by  the  British  firm  of  John  Pryce  &  Co. 

G  G  2 


452  JAVA 

difficulty,  until  1616,  when  the  Dutch  burnt  their  factory. 
This,  of  course,  ruined  the  English  prestige  in  the  eyes  of  the 
natives,  and,  owing  to  their  inability  to  punish  this  act  by 
reprisals,  their  position  was  never  hereafter  the  same  and 
the  factory  gradually  languished. 

In  1619  the  Dutch  called  their  fort  "  Batavia,"  and  here- 
with opened  a  new  era. 

In  1677,  by  one  of  those  famous  treaties  of  theirs  with  the 
Emperor  of  Java,  they  secured  the  monopoly  for  all  trade 
at  Jacatra,  and  this  gave  the  English  Company  their  death- 
blow.^ 

In  the  chapter  on  "  Travellers'  Tales"  (XII.)  mention  is 
made  from  time  to  time  of  Batavia  ;  and  the  descriptions 
given  by  Commodore  Koggewein  in  1722  and  Captain  Cook 
in  1770  are  so  very  complete  that  we  may  pass  to  the  nine- 
teenth century,  to  Batavia  as  it  was  found  by  Lord  Minto 
on  his  arrival  here  with  Raffles  in  1811.  We  learn  from 
this  account  a  great  deal  about  the  Chinese,  who  were  enor- 
mously rich,  and  owned  nearly  the  whole  of  the  western 
suburbs  of  Batavia.  Every  house  was  a  shop  ;  the  streets 
were  invariably  crowded,  exhibiting  a  constant  scene  of 
noise  and  bustle.  When  it  was  known  that  Java  had  been 
captured  by  the  English,  the  Chinese  increased  their  num- 
bers immediately  by  five  thousand  adventurers,  who 
arrived  in  junks.  The  Chinese  inhabitants  gave  great 
feasts  now  and  then,  and  many  Europeans  took  part  in 
these  festivities,  enjoying  the  sumptuous  tables,  which 
were  filled  with  every  luxury  procurable.  We  are  told  that 
the  Dutch  girls  were  fair,  but  had  a  sickly  languor  about 
their  countenances,  and  that  at  home  they  dressed  in  a 
sarong  and  a  loose,  flowing  gown  called  a  "  cabaya,"  their 
black  hair  being  plastered  back  and  ornamented  with  dia- 
mond pins,  combs,  and  strong-scented  flowers. 

After  the  arrival,  however,  of  the  English  officers  these 

^  See  the  Chronological  Tables  at  the  end  of  this  section. 


PANdKRAN    ADIl'ATI    SOERIODILOGO    PKINS    PAKOK-ALIM    VII. 


THE   TOWXS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  4.53 

same  young  ladies  mixed  much  in  their  society,  adopting 
the  fashionable  habihment  of  the  EngHsh  officers'  wives. 

The  state  of  society  has  been  described  as  very  different 
to  what  it  was  in  Em'ope  and  British  India.  At  a  Dutch 
party,  for  instance,  it  was  the  custom  for  the  men  to  assemble 
in  one  room  and  there  to  smoke  and  drink,  whilst  the  lady 
of  the  house  entertained  her  female  friends  in  another  room 
with  betel,  spices,  and  coffee.  The  gentlemen  also  assem- 
bled at  a  meeting  place  called  the  "  Society,"  where  they 
smoked,  drank,  and  played  cards  or  bilHards  every  evening 
from  7  till  9  o'clock,  when  they  returned  home  for  a  hot 
dinner.  For  the  use  of  the  "  Society  "  an  elegant  building 
was  completed  in  the  time  of  Raffles  at  the  corner  of  Rys- 
Avick,  which  was  inscribed  over  the  front  entrance  with  the 
large  letters  "  DE  HARMONIE."  Convivial  parties  were 
frequently  given  amongst  the  higher  classes,  the  guests 
being  entertained  with  "  sprightly  dances  and  elegant 
suppers."  Balls  at  "  De  Harmonic "  and  Government 
House  were  also  given  now  and  again.  Lord  Minto 
describes  one  of  them  at  the  latter  as  follows  : — 

"  Of  the  ball  at  Batavia  Government  House,  it  is  impossible 
to  give  you  anything  Hke  an  adequate  notion  of  the  total  absence 
of  beauty  in  so  crowded  a  hall.  There  never  is  a  dozen  of  women 
assembled  in  Europe  without  a  few  attractions  amongst  them. 
Here  there  was  no  difference,  except  in  some  varieties  of  ugliness  or 
ordinariness  of  dress  and  manners.  The  Dutch  did  not  encourage 
nor  indeed  allow  freely  European  women  to  go  out  to  their  colonies. 
The  consequence  has  been  that  the  men  hved  with  native  women, 
whose  daughters,  gradually  borrowing  something  from  the 
father's  side,  are  now  the  wives  and  ladies  of  rank  in  Java.  The 
young  ladies  have  learnt  the  European  fashions  of  dress,  and  their 
carriage  and  manners  are  something  like  our  own  of  an  ordinary 
class. 

"  In  dancing,  the  young  beauties  seemed  lame  in  English 
country  dances,  but  in  their  own  dance,  which  was  to  a  very 
slow  valse  tune,  the  figure  much  the  same  as  ours  with  a  valse 
embrace  instead  of  an  allemande,  they  were  at  home,  and  not 


454  JAVA 

without  grace,  while  our  English  damsels  and  cavaliers  were  all 
abroad.  Mrs.  Bunbury,  the  wife  of  an  officer,  a  young  pretty 
Enghshwoman,  stood  up  in  the  dance,  but  seemg  when  the  first 
couple  reached  her  the  Dutch  gentleman  take  his  arms  and  hug 
her,  it  appeared  to  Jier  as  a  bear  does  her  prey,  she  fairly  took  to 
her  heels  and  could  not  be  brought  back  again  by  any  means 
to  see  or  share  such  horror." 

In  1811  there  were  no  places  of  public  amusement  in 
Batavia,  not  even  a  single  theatre  of  any  kind. 

The  houses  were  mostly  of  brick,  run  up  in  a  light,  airy 
manner  with  large  windows.  In  style  they  were  palatial, 
and  almost  all  built  on  one  plan  by  Chinese.  A  description 
of  one  is  as  follows.  On  entering  the  door  there  was  a 
narrow  passage,  and  on  one  side  a  parlour  ;  then  you  came 
into  a  large,  long  room,  lighted  from  an  inner  court.  This 
was  called  the  "  gallery,"  and  was  the  place  where  the 
family  ate.  The  floors  were  of  large,  square,  dark  red 
stones  ;  the  walls  w^ere  plastered  and  whitewashed.  The 
furniture  consisted  of  armchairs,  two  or  three  bale-hales 
(sofas),  and  many  looking-glasses.  Several  chandeliers  for 
candles  and  some  small  open  lamps  for  cocoanut  oil  along 
the  length  of  the  gallery,  and  a  few  bric-a-brac  from  China, 
almost  completed  the  inventory.  The  crockery  was  all 
kept  in  the  dining  gallery  in  cupboards  especially  made  for 
the  purpose.     The  colour  of  the  furniture  was  all  black. 

There  were  stairs  leading  to  the  upper  rooms.  Six  or 
seven  stairs  up  was  a  room  which  stood  over  the  storeroom, 
or  cellar,  where  the  stock  of  wine,  beer,  butter,  etc.,  was 
kept.  The  bedrooms  were  poorly  furnished,  and  contained 
only  absolute  necessities.^  At  the  backs  of  the  houses  were 
long  corridors  of  small  rooms  running  down  each  side  of  the 
compound  ;  in  these  were  the  kitchens,  bathrooms,  stables 
for  horses,  and  the  quarter  for  the  slaves.  Some  of  the 
windows  in  the  houses  were  closed  with  lattice  work  of 
rattans,  instead  of  being  glazed,  for  the  sake  of  air. 

1  The  less  there  was,  the  less  trouble  there  was  with  mosquitoes. 


THE   TOWNS    IX   JAVA,    ETC.  455 

The  city  of  Batavia  or  Jacatra,  and  especially  that  por- 
tion now  called  "  Kali  Besar,"  was  in  1811  practically 
deserted,  most  of  the  business  houses  having  then.-  offices  in 
Molenoliet  or  in  Rj^swdck  ;  before,  however,  the  British  left 
most  of  the  firms  had  hired  or  bought  the  old  dwelling- 
houses  round  about  "  Kali  Besar  "  and  turned  them  into 
offices,  finding  it  more  convenient  to  be  nearer  the  wharves. 
Thus  we  see  the  old  Governor-General's  palace,  which  in 
the  seventeenth  century  was  used  as  a  country  house,  being 
nowadays  used  as  ofi&ces  by  the  Borneo  Company,  Messrs. 
Burt,  Myrtle  &  Co.,  Messrs.  Campbell,  Macoll  &  Co.,  and 
the  Chartered  Bank  of  India,  Australia  and  China,  besides 
one  or  two  Dutch  firms.  The  official  palace  at  the  time  this 
fine  building  was  used  as  a  country  house  was  down  at  the 
end  of  the  "  Oude  Boom  "  (Old  Wharf),  a  little  to  the  right 
of  where  now  stands  a  small  earthen  fort,  used  as  a  powder 
magazine.  The  fortifications  round  about  the  "  Oude  Boom  '* 
and  the  great  wall,  which  surrounded  the  old  town,  were 
mostly  pulled  down,  just  before  the  arrival  of  the  British,  by 
General  Daendels,  which  improved  the  health  of  the  old  city 
very  much  owing  to  the  freer  circulation  of  ak. 

Churches  Old  and  New. — The  great  church  of  Batavia, 
described  by  Cook,  and  built  in  1760,  to  the  west  of  the 
present  town  house,  as  also  two  other  very  old  churches, 
were  likewise  pulled  down  at  tliis  time  owing  to  their 
foundations  giving  way.  There  was  still  a  Lutheran 
church  ^  near  the  old  castle,  where  the  Protestant  community 
attended  divine  service.  The  old  Portuguese  church  which 
still  stands  at  the  corner  of  the  Jacatra  road,  built  in  1695, 
was,  however,  also  frequented  by  Portuguese  Chiistians  ; 
and  to  this  day  some  of  the  old  Portuguese  descendants, 
w^ith  sadly  mingled  blood  and  scarcely  recognisable  as 
Europeans  at  all,  attend  here  in  long  black  coats  on  Sunday. 
Before  the  arrival  of  the  Dutch  and  English  at  the  beginning 
1  Pulled  down  about  1830. 


456  JAVA 

of  the  seventeenth  century  another  church  stood  where  this 
one  now  is,  and  the  Portuguese  pastor  preached  in  Malay, 
while  trying  in  his  spare  time  to  drum  into  the  Javan 
*'  Christians  "  (or  such  as  he  so  called)  a  mixture  of  bastard 
Portuguese  which  was  thought  suitable  to  them  ;  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt,  from  the  number  of  Portuguese  words  for 
articles  and  things  of  general  employ  in  daily  use  by  the  Malay 
servants,  that  the  Javans  were  very  apt  pupils.  The  first 
very  old  church  was,  however,  burnt  down  in  1628,  and  the 
Dutch  preacher  Dr.  Molineus,  who  preached  in  Portuguese 
once  in  fourteen  days,  was  then  obliged  to  do  this  in  a 
bamboo  shed.  In  1652  the  Dutch  pastor  had  thirteen 
teachers  under  him  preaching  the  religion  of  Christ  to  the 
natives,  who  proved  willing  proselytes.  These  teachers  in 
time,  if  they  could  pass  their  examinations,  became  preachers 
in  the  church  to  the  Europeans,  and  one  of  these  thirteen 
above  mentioned  became  a  local  celebrity  at  that  time, 
despite  the  fact  that  he  did  not  pass  his  examinations. 
This  was  the  Bandanees  Cornells  Seenen,  who,  buying  a 
piece  of  ground  covered  with  forest  on  the  river  Tji  Li  Woeng, 
cleared  it  and  made  a  garden  round  the  house  he  built. 
This  he  called  "  Meester  Cornells  garden,"  and  the  long  road 
cut  up  to  it  was  called  "  Seenen  "  ;  here  the  natives  later 
held  a  weekly  pasar  or  market.^  Where  the  old  Java 
Bank  was  built  in  1828  stood  in  1695  a  large  hospital,  and 
near  by  appears  to  have  been  another  small  church  for  the 
sick,  called  the  Hospital  Church.  When  this  church  was 
pulled  down  there  is  nothing  to  show,  but  it  probably 
occurred  between  1812  and  1825.  At  the  opening  of  the 
Portuguese  church  in  1695  the  Governor-General  and  his 
lady,  with  his  council  and  their  wives,  attended  the  service, 
and  the  Dominie  Jacobus  preached  in  Portuguese,  taking 
as  his  text  Psalm  Ixxxiv.,  verses  2  and  3.     The  church,  we 

1  In  1706  there  was  a  buffalo  market  with  a  few  stalls  at  Cornells.     In 
1735  Paear  Senen  and  Tanah-bang  were  oflQcial  market  places. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  457 

learn,  was  full.  When  the  first  organ  was  placed  in  the 
church  is  not  clear,  but  the  present  one  was  presented  by 
the  daughter  of  the  then  well-known  Portuguese  preacher, 
Johan  Maurits  Mohr,  in  1782,  "  as  the  old  organ  had  given 
out."  Up  till  the  year  1800  all  Europeans  of  note  were 
buried  round  this  church,  but  after  that  date  at  Tanah-bang 
cemetery.  Governor- General  Swardecroon  was  buried  here 
on  the  16th  August,  1728.^  In  1713  there  were  four  thousand 
Portuguese  who  "  on  and  off "  attended  the  services,  whilst 
in  1749  the  numbers  reached  five  thousand.  After  this, 
however,  they  fell  off,  until  in  1766  there  were  not  more 
than  sixty-two. 

The  present-day  Europeans  of  the  upper  class  attend  the 
cathedral  which  stands  on  the  King's  Plain  at  Weltevreden  ; 
but  the  English  have  a  small  church  at  Parapattau,  where 
an  English  service  is  held  every  Sunday.  This  church 
was  built  about  1845.^  The  first  chaplain  to  the  British 
community  was  Mr.  Drummond,  a  man  who  was  highly 
esteemed  by  both  the  Dutch  and  English,  being  highly 
gifted.  In  those  days  half  the  expenses  of  the  church  and 
chaplain  were  borne  by  the  British  Government,  but  when 
Mr.  Gladstone  brought  in  his  great  retrenchment  bill  this 
payment  ceased,  and  the  British  community,  a  com- 
paratively small  one,  had  to  look  after  itself. 

Castle  of  Batavia. — The  old  Castle  of  Batavia  in  1811  is 
described  as  spacious  ;  it  contained  a  number  of  buildings 
and  extensive  warehouses,  in  the  construction  of  which 
prodigious  labour  and  expense  must  have  been  incurred. 
Some  of  these  warehouses  still  exist. 

Old  Hospital.— The  hospital  between  Newport  and  Diest- 
poort,  and  nearly  all  the  public  buildings  of  old  Batavia,  in 
the  towns,  in  Great  River  Street  (Kali  Besar),  as  also  on  the 

^  His  fine  tombstone  may  still  be  seen. 

2  John  Leith  Bonhote  and  Donald  Maclaine  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with 
its  erection. 


458  JAVA 

Jacatra  wharf  (not  to  be  confused  with  Oude  Boom,  or  Old 
Wharf,  on  the  Great  Kiver),  not  being  required  by  the  British 
Government,  they  were  sold,  being  built  up  mostly  by  mer- 
chants. It  is  thus  that  the  business  houses  of  the  present 
generation  happen  to  be  the  buildings  formerly  occupied 
as  dwelling-houses  by  the  Dutch  in  the  days  of  old  Batavia. 

Eiwirons  oj  Batavia,  1811. — In  the  early  days  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  there  were  two  principal  roads  leading  to  the 
environs  and  Weltevreden ;  the  one  on  the  east  was  and 
still  is  called  the  Jacatra  road,^  and  the  other  to  the  west 
thi'ough  MolenoHet  was  called  "  Milldrain,"  because  part  of 
the  water  of  the  Great  or  Jacatra  river  was  diverted  into  a 
channel  along  this  road  for  the  purpose  of  turning  a  pow^der- 
mill.  This  road  led  on  to  Eyswick,  and  from  there  to  Tanah- 
bang.  The  Jacatra  road  eventually  led  into  a  district  called 
Goenoeng  Sari.  On  it  is  still  to  be  seen  the  grave  of  the 
first  captain  Chinaman  at  Batavia,  So  Bing  Kong,  who  was 
buried  in  1631,  and  near  it  are  several  other  Chinese  graves 
certainly  as  old,  if  not  older.  It  is  at  Goenoeng  Sari  where 
the  old  fort  of  Jacatra  stood.  Every  evening  in  1811, 
between  5  and  7  o'clock,  these  main  roads  were  filled  with 
carriages  and  riders. 

The  printing  office  was  at  Molenoliet,  and  a  Masonic  lodge 
within  the  precincts  of  Jacatra,  so  also  the  old  "  Harmonie 
Society  "  in  Newpoort  Street. 

Governor-GeneraV  s  Palace. — Just  before  the  present 
Governor's  palace  in  Noordwyck  was  built  his  Excellency's 
residency  was  in  Molenoliet  (the  tram  passes  it  daily),  and 
before  this  it  was  at  Goenoeng  Sari.  In  the  vestibule  of  the 
palace  at  Molenoliet  there  were  busts  of  all  the  Governor- 
Generals,  including  even  Lord  Minto's.  Baffles,  however, 
sent  all  these  to  grace  the  Government  House  at  Calcutta. 

Barracks. — At  Eyswick  there  were  good  barracks,  as 
also  on  the  road  to  Cornells  at  Pasar  Senen. 

^  The  Jacatra  road  must  be  nearly  300  years  old. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  459 

Present-day  Batavia. — Batavia  at  the  present  day  is  a 
magnificently  built  city,  comparing  more  than  well  with 
any  town  in  the  East.  Its  dwelling-houses,  its  macadamised 
roads,  its  institutions  and  its  clubs  ("  Harmonic  "  and 
*'  Concordia  "  are  the  two  principal)  are  second  to  none ; 
while  its  theatres,  shops,  public  gardens,  and  social  recrea- 
tion clubs  are  equal  to  those  found  anywhere  in  the  East. 
The  present  principal  theatre  was  built  about  1875.^ 

There  is  a  Kace  Club,  started  by  the  English  in  1812,  a 
Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  a  museum,  and  a  tram  service 
(electric  and  steam)  all  over  the  town  and  its  environs. 

The  Dutch  are  to  strangers  an  agreeable  people,  with 
none  of  the  faults  so  frequently  and  unjustly  attributed  to 
them  in  Europe  ;  and  it  is  the  fact  that  all  the  Englishmen 
in  these  countries  marry  into  the  high  Dutch  families 
instead  of  marrying  their  own  countrywomen. 

The  first  Eesident  here  during  the  British  period  was 
Thomas  Macquoid,  of  whom  more  will  be  related  in  the 
*'  Commercial  "  chapter.  His  chief  assistant  was  a  Dutch- 
man, van  Heerdt.^ 

As  a  relic  of  the  English  period,  there  is,  just  behind  the 
Dutch  post  office  at   Weltevreden,  the  grave-stone  of  a 
distinguished   officer   who   fell    at    the   battle   of   Meester 
Cornells  in  1811.     The  inscription  reads  : — 
Here  lie  the  remains  of 

LlEUTENANT-COLONEL   WeLLIAM   CaMPBELL 

of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  78th  Regiment 

who  died  on  the 

28th  August,  1811 

of  womids  received  on  the  26th  of  the  month,  while 

bravely   leading   on  his   Regiment   to   attack   the 

strongly    fortified    Lines    of    Cornelis    defended    by    a 

gallant  enemy. 

To  him  who  living  was  beloved  by  all  for  his 

1  "W.  T.  Fraser  was  chiefly  responsible  for  its  erection. 
*  Reference  should  be  made  to  the  lists  of  British  Residents  in  Java  from 
1812  to  1816  (see  Appendix), 


460  JAVA 

gentle  manners,  and  his  many  virtues — who 
in  Death  received  the  applause  of  his  country. 
To  him  the  Companion  of  many  happy  years  and 
the  father  of  her  children,  this  frail  memor- 
ial of  imperishable  regard  is  erected  by  his 
afflicted  widow. 

Another  relic  is  found  on  a  window  above  one  of  the  back 

doors  of  the  Borneo  Company's  office  at  Batavia  (which,  as 

said,  was  once  the  Governor-General's  country  palace  in  the 

days  of  the  old  East  India  Company).     An  inscription  here 

reads  : — 

Geo.  Cunningham 
May  4,  1798 
was  robbed  of  the  Oreon 
of  Boston. 

From  this  it  would  appear  that  George  Cunningham,  the 
master  of  a  ship  called  the  Oreon,  of  Boston,  and  on  the 
4th  May  a  prisoner,  had  for  some  reason  or  another  had  his 
ship  taken  away  from  him  by  the  Dutch  East  India  Company 
and  been  punished  by  imprisonment  in  the  Governor- 
General's  palace. 

List  of  the  presidents  of  the  English  East  India  Company's 
factory  at  Jacatra,  or  Batavia,  as  far  as  can  be  elicited  from 
old  records  : — 

1604.     Sir  Henry  Middleton. 

1609.  WiUiam  Keeling. 

1610.  David  Middleton  (Hill,  salesman). 

1615 — 1619.     John  Jordan,  or  Jordayne^  (president). 

1619.     John  Powell,  President  (Ufflet,  salesman). 

1620 — 1625.  Thomas  Brockedon,^^  president  (Henry  Hawley, 
John  Goning,  Joseph  Cockram,  members  of  council ;  Richard 
Haselwood,  secretary  ;  George  Bray  Hill,  Hanson,  Heyns,  sales- 
men). 

1  Left  Jacatra  for  Bantam,  26th  January,  1619. 

2  Left  Batavia  for  Bantam  en  route  for  Europe,  10th  February,  1625. 

'  In  July,  1622,  the  ship  Abigail,  belonging  to  the  English  East  India 
Company,  sailed  from  London  for  Bantam  and  Jacatra.  On  board  was  an 
invoice  marked  "  Contents  of  a  Chest  of  Chirurgery  for  Jaccatra  House 
laden  upon  the  Abigail.'"  Of  this.  Sir  G.  Birdwood  says,  "  A  very  interest- 
ing Ust  of  Materia  Medica."  The  English  had  always  their  own  chirurgeon, 
not  trusting  the  Dutch  one,  who,  however,  was  probably  the  cleverer  of 
the  two. 


THE   TOWNS   m   JAVA,    ETC.  461 

1625 — 1628.  Henry  Hawley^^^  president  (Joseph  Cockram, 
Richard  Bicks,  George  Muschamps,*  members  of  council  ;  Thomas 
Robinson,  secretary  ;  Richard  Steele,  John  Short,  John  Cart- 
wright,  salesmen). 

1628 — 1630.  George  Muschamps,  president  (Richard  Bicks, 
Richard  Steele,  members  of  council ;  Thomas  Robinson,  secretary). 

1630 — 1632.  Thomas  Burt,^  president  (Barnaby,^  Richard 
Steele,  members  of  council  ;  Christopher  Fleming,^  secretary  and 
salesman). 

1  Took  over  charge  on  Monday,  the  10th  February,  1625. 

^  Shortly  after  his  appointment  as  president,  Heniy  Hawley  addressed 
the  following  letter  to  the  Dutch  Governor-General : — 

"  To  the  Right  Worshipful,  my  muche  respected  and  worthie  vriend 
Pieter  de  Carpentier  Generall. 

"  These  derected  : 

"  Sir — If  yew  wilbe  pleased  to  accept  this  small  remembrance  (as  from  a 
honourable  imploiers)  it  shal  be  the  acknowledgment  of  your  kind  reUevinge 
us  at  Lagundy  receivinge  us  in  Batavia,  at  all  times  to  obligie  us  in  the  lyke 
bandes  of  cortesies,  not  to  fayle  God  Willinge. 

"  Youre  vere  loving  friend, 

"  Batavia,  the  11th  June.  "  Henry  Hawlet. 

"  Anno  1625." 

s  The  English  presidents  as  early  as  1625  waited  upon  the  Dutch  Gover- 
nor-General over  every  incident  and  trifle,  as  is  inconti'overtibly  proved  by 
the  records,  thus  showing  that  they  acknowledged  the  Dutch  sovereignty 
over  the  country,  which  the  latter  claimed  in  1619.  The  Dutch  Governor- 
General  appears  to  have  treated  them  with  "businesslike"  courtesy  and 
civility. 

■•  For  some  time  governor  at  the  English  factory  at  Amboyna. 

®  From  1632  until  1677  it  would  appear  that  although  the  English  East 
India  Company  had  a  factory  at  Batavia,  it  was  under  the  control  of  the 
Company's  factory  at  Batavia  and  no  longer  independent.  This  factory 
at  Batavia  was  looked  after  by  one  or  two  English  salesmen,  the  senior  of 
whom  held  the  title  amongst  themselves  of  agent.  This  agent  had  goods 
sent  to  him  from  time  to  time  as  required  from  Batavia,  but  owing  to  the 
competition  from  the  Dutch,  their  monopolies,  and  the  "  gentle  pressure  " 
of  sovereignty,  well  veiled,  which  they  exerted,  his  indents  grew  less  and 
less,  so  that  it  was  really  no  great  loss  to  the  Company  when  it  was  forced 
to  close  its  doors  here  in  1677. 

There  do  not  appear  to  have  been  any  presidents  after  T.  Burt,  only 
salesmen  from  Bantam.  A  certain  Englishman  called  Captain  Gatrman 
established  himself  at  Bantam  (after  having  failed  to  do  so  at  Batavia)  as 
a  merchant  in  1648.  Later  he  moved,  however,  again  to  Batavia  and  sold 
goods  for  the  English  East  India  Company.  At  this  time  another  English- 
man, Thomas  Pinston,  settled  at  Macassar  and  took  charge  of  the  English 
factory  there. 

'    These     two    men    were    sent    in    1634    to    the    Enghsh    factory   at 


462  JAVA 

SOURABAYA. 

Sourabaya  was  peopled  by  a  few  families  of  Javans  at  a 
very  early  date,  although  the  principal  places  at  this  end  of 
the  island  were  until,  comparatively  speaking,  a  recent  date 
Grissee  and  Yortan.^ 

By  Europeans  the  place  was  never  apparently  thought 
much  of,  and  in  consequence  it  was  not  until  late  in  the 
eighteenth  century  that  they  went  to  live  there.  There 
was  never  a  Dutch  governor  here,  as  at  Samarang,  nor  ever 
a  president,  until  quite  late,  but  the  chief  man  in  the  place 
held  the  rank  of  "  senior  merchant  "  (opper  koopman),  and 
the  title  of  commander  of  the  eastern  district.  In  these 
days  the  only  export  was  rice. 

No  Englishmen  were  residing  at  Sourabaya  before  1811, 
when  one  of  the  British  regiments  was  stationed  there. 
English  vessels,  however,  under  English  commanders  now 
and  again  during  the  eighteenth  century  called  in  for  water. 
In  1796  a  fairly  strong  military  force  was  kept  here,  which 
was  commanded  by  Major  Carol  von  Franquemont,  a  Ger- 
man who  arrived  in  Java  in  1796,  and  a  member  of  one  of 
those  foreign  families  who  became  a  few  years  later  quite 
a  factor  in  Java,  owning  estates  and  business  houses,  and 
even  assisting  the  British  Government  in  various  offices. 
Mention  will  be  specially  made  of  this  family  later  on.  The 
troops  under  von  Franquemont  were  one  hundred  Europeans 
and  a  company  of  the  old  Wurtemberg  Eegiment,  besides 
six  companies  of  Maduran  infantry  and  two  of  Maduran 
artillery,  under  the  command  of  European  officers  or  of 
Europeans  born  in  Sourabaya.  There  was  a  military 
hospital  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  sick,  but  "  Surabaye,"  as 

Jamby,  Fleming  becoming  president  there  before  the  year  was  out.  In 
1632  wbilst  at  Batavia  Fleming  complained  to  the  Dutch  Governor- General 
of  having  been  beaten  and  hurt  by  Barnaby.  The  latter,  when  questioned, 
promised  to  comport  himself  better  in  future,  so  he  was  let  off  with  a 
caution. 

1  Yortan  was  the  Chinese  name  for  a  town  on  the  river  Brantas,  near 
where  BangU  now  is. 


THE   TOWNS    m   JAVA,    ETC.  463 

it  was  then  called,  was  a  "  very  healthy  spot,  with  a  dry 
climate,  so  that  the  hospital  was  never  full." 

The  town  was,  and  still  is,  cut  in  two  by  the  river  Caliemas 
(Kali  Mas,  or  Eiver  of  Gold).  The  banks  were  full  of 
villages,  inhabited  two-thirds  by  Malays  and  the  remainder 
by  Chinese.  The  soldiers  were  quartered  in  a  brick  fort 
containing  a  small  arsenal,^  and  there  were  batteries  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  which  was  generally  full  of  coasters, 
vessels  drawing  ten  to  twelve  feet  and  carrying  rice. 
English  and  Spanish  vessels  from  Europe,  bound  for  Canton 
and  the  Philippines,  during  the  west  monsoon  invariably 
called  here  in  those  days  to  refresh,  procuring  all  they 
required  except  vegetables,  which  had  to  be  got  from 
"  Passourouang."  The  native  products  included  candle- 
sticks, plates  and  goblets,  made  from  a  hard  stone  pro- 
curable in  the  mountains  ;  combs  and  brushes  of  buffalo's 
horn  were  also  made. 

Three  and  a  half  miles  from  Sourabaya,  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river,  was  a  saltpetre  house,  owned  by  a 
Chinaman  and  built  at  a  cost  of  15,000  rix  dollars;  the 
Government,  however,  made  him  close  it,  and  he  sold  it 
for  600.  The  godowns  or  warehouses  of  this  establishment 
were  the  refuge  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  bats,  whose 
manure  realised  a  good  sum  yearly  to  the  purchaser. 
The  Europeans  used  to  keep  large  barges  or  houseboats, 
splendidly  fitted  up,  and  in  these  made  frequent  trips  to 
Grissee  and  Madura.  An  account  of  one  such  boat  is  as 
follows  : — 

"  A  cabin  occupied  the  whole  length,  except  that  at  either  end, 
where  space  was  left  for  the  master  and  some  rowers,  and  a  small 
sail  to  hoist  when  the  weather  permitted.  The  cabin  was  very 
well  furnished  ;  the  seats,  which  went  all  round,  were  covered 
with  good  cushions  ;  a  table  up  the  middle,  with  small  lockers  for 
provisions  ;    and,  lastly,  latticed  casements  with  silk  curtains 

^  It  still  exists. 


464  JAVA 

completed  the  floating  saloon.     From  Sourabaya  to  Grissee  the 
journey  was  easily  performed  in  five  hours." 

When  the  English  arrived  here  in  1811  we  learn  that  the 
fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  was  called  "  Fort  Calamaas  " 
and  mounted  forty  guns,  and  that  the  barracks  in  the  town 
of  Sourabaya,  built  of  bamboo,  plastered  over  and  white- 
washed, were  capable  of  accommodating  eight  hundred  men. 
Not  far  away  there  was  a  powerful  fort  on  the  island  of 
Madura,  called  "  Lodewyck,"  and  Daendels  seriously 
thought  at  one  time  of  making  a  bamboo  bridge  or  a  way 
across.  The  town  when  Daendels  came  made  considerable 
headway.  Vessels  were  built  and  equipped  ;  an  arsenal 
and  other  extensive  works  were  soon  turning  out  guns  and 
carriages,  and  a  mint  issued  a  new  silver  and  copper  coinage. 

Daendels  started  building  a  Government  House  here  on 
the  same  model  as  at  Weltevreden,  but  owing  to  the 
foundations  of  the  front  giving  way  the  building  was 
abandoned  ;  but  that  part  which  stood  firm  was  turned 
by  the  English  into  warehouses. 

The  Europeans  were  on  one  side  of  the  river,  the  Chinese 
and  natives  on  the  other.  A  bridge  with  draw-chains  to 
raise  it  for  the  passage  of  vessels  connected  the  two  quarters. 
The  European  houses  were  very  good  and  roomy,  and  some 
in  the  suburbs — the  country  seats  of  private  individuals — 
quite  handsome.  The  house  at  Simpang,  where  the  first 
British  Resident,  Colonel  Gibbs,  of  His  Majesty's  78th 
Pv,egiment,  resided,  was  a  rather  fine  building.  It  was 
situated  on  the  banks  of  the  river.^  Near  to  it,  also  on  the 
banks  of  the  river,  was  the  general  hospital,  built  on  a  very- 
liberal  plan.  At  this  time  there  was  no  hospital  in  Java 
more  commodious  than  this  one,  and,  seeing  it  is  still  in  use, 
the  true  foresight  is  seen  of  building  well  once  for  all. 

The   roads    and   avenues    round   about    Sourabaya,    as 

^  It  is  still  in  use  as  the  Resident's  house. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  465 

described  by  one  of  the  English  officers,  were  at  this  time 
dehghtful,  being  shaded  by  trees  on  both  sides ;  and 
mention  is  made  that  the  De  Noyo  cantonment  was  the 
quarters  of  the  mihtary  in  the  eastern  division.  In  1812 
the  land  rental  of  Sourabaya  exceeded  that  of  any  of  the 
other  districts,  for  without  reckoning  the  valuation  of  lands 
provisionally  assigned  to  native  chiefs,  which  roughly 
amounted  to  73,302  rupees,  the  landed  revenue  under  the 
British  Government  was  stated  to  be  667,178  rupees ;  while 
salt  brought  in  50,000  rupees,  opium  100,000  rupees,  and 
town  customs  50,000  rupees — making  a  grand  total  of 
867,178  rupees. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  1813  that  the  export  and 
mercantile  business  of  the  place  took  such  proportions  as  to 
attract  English  merchants.  The  first  to  come  here  were 
two  Englishmen,  who  at  the  beginning  merely  kept  small 
stores.  This  will,  however,  all  be  related  in  the  "  Com- 
mercial "  chapter.  The  first  cemetery  at  Sourabaya  was 
at  a  place  called  Krambangan,  but  since  1848  at  Penellay 
(Peneleli). 

Opposite  to  the  British  Eesident's  house  was  the  old 
village  of  Tagassan,  within  a  few  yards  of  which  place  was 
a  huge  figure  called  Djaka  Dolok^  seated  cross-legged.  One 
is  naturally  led  at  once  to  believe  it  to  represent  some 
Buddhist  deity,  although  the  natives  to  this  day  insist  that 
it  is  the  effigy  of  a  Chinaman  who  suffered  death  for  offending 
one  of  the  first  Dutch  commandants.  Tliis,  however,  must 
be  wrong,  for  a  close  examination  proves  its  Hindu  origin. 

It  was  placed  where  it  now  is  in  a.d.  1289,  and  is  the  life- 
like ef&gy  of  the  Hindu  ruler  of  this  district  at  that  date, 
called  Kerta  Nagara. 

The  tale  of  cruelty  alluded  to  by  the  natives  is  of  more 
recent  date  ;  it  is  worth  relating. 

The  road  from  early  days  running  before  the  Eesident's 

1  Stm  there. 
J. — VOL.   I.  H  H 


466  JAVA 

house  was  called  Cobang  (now  Goebeng),  and  that  which 
branches  off  it  went  by  the  name  of  Simpang.  All  this 
country  and  land  around  once  belonged  to  a  very  rich 
Chinaman,  who  resided  in  the  middle  of  his  park  with  his 
family,  in  a  house  luxuriously  fitted  up  in  Chinese  style. 
The  Dutch  commandant  at  this  time  was  a  man  called 
Chojius.^  Deciding  that  this  park  would  be  the  most 
desirable  place  for  a  residency  and  hospital,  he  sent  word 
to  the  Chinaman  that  he  was  prepared  to  make  a  consider- 
able offer  for  the  land  as  the  Government  wanted  it.  The 
Chinaman,  however,  replied  that  as  he  intended  to  live 
there  during  his  lifetime,  and  after  his  death  to  leave  it  to 
his  children,  he  would  not  part  with  it  for  any  money. 

Chojius  now  sent  for  the  Chinaman  and,  explaining  the 

situation,  warned  him  of  the  consequences.     The  Chinaman, 

however,  proved  obdurate,  and  Chojius,  at  last  becoming 

irritated,  drew  from  his  pocket  two  cents  and  threw  them 

on  the  table,  saying,  "  There  !   as  you  will  not  take  what  I 

have  offered  you  and  refuse  to  name  a  price,  in  the  name  of 

the  Dutch  Government  I  give  you  a  coban  [goeheng]  and  I 

will  simpang  [simpang,  the  Malay  word  which  means  keep] 

your  estates."      Mortified  and  overwhelmed,  the  Chinaman 

withdrew.     It  was  the  custom  in  those  days  when  the 

"  senior  merchant  "  or  commandant  went  out  for  a  ride  or 

drive  that  the  native  population  sat  down  on  the  side  of  the 

road  (this  was  an  old  Hindu  custom  when  the  emperor 

passed)  ;   the  day  when  Chojius  was  passing  the  Chinaman 

whose  estates  had  been  taken  away  from  him  refused  to 

bend  down,  saying,  quivering  with  rage  when  told  to  do  so, 

that  the  commandant  would  have  to  kill  him  first  before  he 

would  do  it.     "  Very  well,"  said  Chojius  when  he  heard 

this,  and  ordering  the  man  to  be  seized,  he  had  him  beheaded 

next  morning.      Such  is  the  tale  of  how  the  sunbunds  of 

*  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  this  name,  but  it  may  have  been  what  he 
was  called  by  the  Chinese. 


THE   TOWNS    m   JAVA,   ETC.  467 

Simpang  and  Goebeng  came  by  their  name.  At  a  very 
early  date  the  hotel,  or  "  heeren  logement  "  as  the  Dutch 
called  it,  was  that  which  is  now  known  as  the  Hotel  des 
Indes.  It  was  considered  a  spacious  building  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  nineteenth  century. 

Sourabaya  is  now  the  most  thriving  town  in  Java,  being 
one  of  the  centres  of  the  sugar  trade,  and  its  export  and 
import  trade  has  reached  huge  figures,  as  a  reference  to  the 
statistics  will  show.  The  restaurants,  shops,  and  emporiums 
vie  with  those  of  the  capital ;  one  of  the  principal  shops  is 
an  English  one  known  as  "  Hendersons." 

There  is  also  a  splendid  new  club,  which  has  replaced  the 
old  one  called  the  Simpang  Club. 

There  is  an  old  theatre  that  was  built  in  1851.^  A  town 
clock,  erected  by  the  British,  headed  by  their  vice-consul, 
Mr.  Warren,  to  commemorate  the  Queen  of  Holland's 
coronation,  stands  as  a  prominent  monument  in  the  middle 
of  the  town.  A  tramway  runs  through  the  town.  There 
are  tennis,  golf,  cricket  and  football  clubs,  which  are  well 
patronised  by  both  the  Dutch  and  English ;  and  for  social 
gaiety  there  is  no  town  in  Java  equal  to  it. 

Sourabaya  is  still  expanding,  and  will  go  on  expanding 
for  a  long  time  yet  to  come. 

In  the  old  cemetery  at  Krambangan  there  is  a  stone  to 
the  memory  of  Captain  Edward  Masquerier,  of  the  "  Country 
Service,"  who  died  during  the  English  period  on  the  30th 
April,  1814,  at  the  age  of  42. 

EUROPEAN  SENIORS,   CAPTAINS    OR   RESIDENTS   OF 
SOURABAYA,  1660—1912. 
1.  Dutch  East  India  Company's  Period. 

1660.     WiUem  Bastinck,  senior  merchant.'^ 
1680.     Johannes  van  Mecheleri,   senior  merchant,   appointed 
19th  January, 

1  Donald  McLacMan  and  Thomas  Bonhote  were  chiefly  interested  in 
its  erection. 

2  Before  this  the  Kesident  of  Sourabaya  hved  at  Japara.     On  the  9th 

HH2 


468  JAVA 

1683.  Abraham  Holscher,  junior  merchants,  appointed  7th 
September  ;  discharged  in  1685  by  Jeremias  van  Vhet  when  he 
inspected  the  Sourabaya  Settlement. 

1685.  On  the  19th  October  the  "  Raad  of  India  "  considered 
the  question  of  transferring  the  headquarters  of  the  Company 
from  Sourabaya  to  Grissee. 

1686.  Joan  Struis. 

1687.  Jan  Barvelt,  captain-Ueutenant. 

1690.  Joan  de  Moor,  captain. 

1691.  Jan  Barvelt,  captain. 

1692.  Michiel  Ram,  captain ;  went  27th  March,  1693,  to  Japara. 
1698.  Anthony   Zas,    captain-lieutenant,      appointed      26th 

August. 

1700.  Pieter  Hogerhnde,  captain,  appointed  12th  November  ; 
until  he  arrived  Lieutenant  Oelof  Christiaanz  was  acting  there. 

1704.     William  Sergeant,  captain,  appointed  30th  September. 

1709.  W.  Boreel,  captain,  appointed  6th  September. 

1710.  Jan  van  Westrenen,  captain  head  of  Sourabaya, 
appointed  14th  October. 

1716.  Stephanus  van  der  Lely,  heutenant,  appointed  captain 
25th  February,  1716  ;  captain-heutenant  of  Sourabaya,  30th  July, 
1717  ;  captain  of  Sourabaya,  22nd  February,  1718. 

1719.  PhiHp  Vogel,  captain,  appointed  28th  April.  In  1721 
Van  Alsem  took  over  charge  of  the  civil  and  commercial  depart- 
ments, which  were  now  for  the  first  time  separated  from  the 
mihtary. 

1721.  Thomas  van  Alsem,  merchant,  appointed  22nd  July, 
1721,  for  the  prevention  of  the  Company's  interests  receding 
(under  the  mihtary  captain  in  rank). 

1725.     Jan  Sautijn,  appointed  6th  March. 

1728.     Rykloff  Duyvens,  merchant,  appointed  27th  February. 

1732.  Jacob  Roman,  appointed  8th  July. 

1733.  Cornelis  Anthony  Lons,  merchant,  appointed  10th  July. 
1735.     Bartholemeus     Visscher,     merchant,     appointed     4th 

October. 

1739.     Benjamin  Blom,  merchant,  appointed  28th  July. 

1741.  Vincent  van  Wingerden,  merchant,  appointed  14th  July ; 
died  at  Sourabaya. 

1742.  Reynier  de  Klerck,  under  merchant  (provisional  resi- 
dent), appointed  30th  July;  on  11th  November,  1743,  by  a 
treaty,  the  Soesvehoenan  ceded  Sourabaya  to  the  East  India 
Company  under  the  article  regarding  "  reconcihation,"  "  peace," 
"friendship,"  and  "  alliance." 

1743.  Gillis  Keyser,  upper  head,  appointed  1st  August  ; 
promoted  7th  August  to  merchant. 

June,   1705,  the  garrison  at  Sourabaya  consisted  of  one  hundred  men. 
They  lived  in  a  fort. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  469 

1746.  Reynier  de  Klerck,  senior  merchant,  upper  head  of 
east  coast,  appointed  1st  June,  1746  ;  second  of  Java,  24th  March, 
1747  ;   promoted  Governor  of  Banda,  30th  December,  1748. 

1748.  Dirk  Willem  van  der  Brugghen,  merchant  with  the 
rank  of  senior  merchant,  upper  head  of  Sourabaya,  appointed 
31st  December,  1748. 

1751.  Meester  Petrus  Schik,  upper  head,  appointed  29th  June, 
1751. 

1754.  Christiaan  Benjamin  Rhener,  major,  later  senior 
merchant,  captain  of  Sourabaya,  appointed  13th  September. 

1755.  Abraham  Christoffel  Coertz,  upper  head,  appointed 
27th  June,  1755  ;  received  the  title  of  "  Senior  merchant,  captain 
of  the  east  coast,"  2nd  September,  1756. 

1763.  Hendrik  Breton,  captain  of  the  east  coast  and  Second  of 
the  Government  of  Java's  north-east  coast,  appointed  1st 
February. 

1765.  Meester  Johan  Everhard  Coop  a  Groen,  senior  merchant, 
captain  of  the  east  coast,  appointed  30th  July. 

1769.  Meester  Pieter  Lusac,  upper  head  of  Sourabaya,  captain 
of  the  east  coast,  appointed  15th  September. 

1775.  Rudolph  Florentinus  van  der  Niepoort,  senior  merchant, 
captain  of  the  east  coast,  appointed  15th  December  ;  discharged 
at  his  own  request,  20th  April,  1784. 

1784.  Barend  Willem  Fockens,  captain  of  Java's  north-east 
coast,  appointed  20th  April ;  died  at  Sourabaya. 

1784.  Anthony  Barkey,  senior  merchant,  captain  of  the  east 
coast,  appointed  18th  June. 

1794.  Dirk  van  Hogendorp,  senior  merchant,  captain  of  the 
east  coast,  appointed  12th  February, 

1798.  Wonter  Hendrik  van  Ysseldyk,  commissioner  over 
Java  east  coast,  appointed  1st  January. 


2.  Java  a  Crown  Colony  of  Holland. 

1799.     Frederik  Jacob  Rothen-buhler,  senior  merchant,  captain 
of  the  east  coast,  appointed  6th  September. 

1809.  Ridder  J.  A.  van  Middelkoop,  captain,  later  prefect 
and  landrost  of  Java  east  coast,  appointed  18th  April. 

1810.  Petrus  Adrianus  Goldbach,   landrost,   appointed  

September. 

3.  English  Occupation  of  Java. 

1811.  Colonel  Gibbs,  Resident. 

1812.  Colonel  Alexander  Adams,  His  Majesty's  78th  Regiment, 
appointed  Resident  25th  July. 


470  JAVA 

1814.  John  Crawfurd,^  Resident  of  Sourabaya  and  Bangkalan, 
appointed  27th  October. 

1815.  Wilham  Ainshe,^  Resident  of  Sourabaya  and  Bangkalan, 
appointed  19th  August. 

4.  Java  again  a  Crown  Colony  of  Holland, 

1816.  Pieter  Overbeeck  and  Carel  Rauws,  appointed  commis- 
sioners to  take  over  the  Government  of  Sourabaya  from  the 
EngUsh. 

1816.  Phihp  Herbert,  Baron  van  Lawick  van  Pabst,  acting 
Resident. 

1817.  Jonkheer  Adriaan  Maurits  Theodorus,  Baron  de  Sahs, 
Resident,  appointed  12th  November. 

1822.     P.  van  der  Poel,  Resident,  appointed  in  March. 

1824.  Meester  Bernard  Hendrik  Alexander  Besier,  Resident, 
appointed  in  January. 

1827(?).     Henry  MacGillavry,  Resident. 

1827.  B.  W.  Pinket  van  Hask,  Resident,  appointed  in 
September. 

1830.  Jonkheer  Adriaan  Maurits  Theodorus,  Baron  de  Sahs, 
acting  President,  appointed  8th  April. 

1831.  Hendrik  Jacob  Domis,  Resident,  appointed  5th  March. 
1834.     Carel    Jan    Riesz,    major-general,    acting     Resident, 

appointed  January. 

1839.  Meester  Daniel  Francois  Willem  Pietermaart,^  Resident, 
appointed  9th  March,  1839  ;  died  at  Sourabaya,  30th  November, 
1848. 

1848.  Pierre  Jean  Baptiste  de  Perez,  Resident,  appointed 
8th  December. 

1852(?).     H.  F.  Buschkens,  acting  Resident. 

1853.  Gerardus  CorneHs  Schonck,  acting  Resident,  appointed 
5th  January. 

1853.     Pieter  Vreede  Bik,  Resident,  appointed  4th  April. 

1857.  Jean  Jacques  Modderman,  acting  Resident,  appointed 
1st  December,  23rd  March,  1858. 

1858.  Jonkheer  Meester  Herman  Constantyn  van  der  Wyck, 
Resident,  appointed  4th  February. 

1860.     Otto  van  Rees,  Resident,  appointed  14th  May. 

1864.  Carel  Phihp  Conrad  Steinmetz,  Resident,  appointed 
18th  March. 

1865.  Henri  Maximihaan  Andree  Wiltens,  Resident,  appointed 
28th  December. 

>  rormerly  Resident  of  Djockja  Karta,  later  Governor  of  Singapore. 
"^  Brother  of  Dr.  Ainalie,  Resident  of  Djockja  Karta,  1815. 
'  Grandfather  of  A.  K.  W.  Prins,  a  partner  of  Maclaine,  Watson  &  Co., 
and  later  head  of  the  firm  of  Prins  &  Co.,  brokers,  Samarang. 


THE   TOWNS   IN  JAVA,    ETC.  471 

1868.  Salomon  van  Deventer,  Resident,  appointed  20th  April. 
1873.  Philip  Willem  Abraham  van  Spall,  Resident,  appointed 
3rd  August. 

1876.     Frederick     Beyerinck,     Resident,     appointed      11th 
December. 

1884.  Jonkheer  Carel  Herman  Aart  van  der  Wyck,  Resident, 
appointed  29th  May. 

1888.  Johan  Cornelis  Theodoras  Kroesen,  Resident,  appointed 
18th  May. 

1896.  Hendrik  Willem  van  Ravenswaay,  Resident,  appointed 
20th  July. 

1901.     L.  C.  A.  F.  Lange,  Resident,  appointed  16th  September. 

1905.     R.  H.  Ebbinck,  Resident,  appointed  11th  August. 

1908 — 1912.     J.  Einthoven,  Resident,  appointed  29th  May. 

Samarang. 

By  an  act  or  deed  dated  the  15th  January,  1678,  between 
the  Sultan  of  Mataram  and  the  Dutch  Admiral  Speelman 
the  town  of  Samarang,  together  with  all  its  neighbouring 
villages  and  land,  became  the  property  of  the  East  India 
Company.  From  1743  until  the  end  of  the  Company's  rule 
this  was  the  capital  of  Java's  north  coast,  and  from  1754  the 
seat  of  a  Governor.  The  first  Governor  was  that  splendid 
statesman  Nicolaas  Hartingh,  and  the  last  was  Nicolaas 
Engelhard,  who  was  such  friends  with  the  English  and  who 
was  later  on  the  "  Raad  van  Indie  "  (Viceroy's  Council),  and 
still  later  owner  of  the  estate  "  Poudok  Gedeh."  In  1816 
Samarang  was  reduced  to  a  Residency,  after  having  already 
been  lowered  in  importance  a  few  years  before  the  great 
Daendels. 

Formerly  the  town  of  Japara  was  the  capital  of  this  part 
of  the  island — a  town  which  was  inhabited  in  all  probability 
by  Hindus  two  thousand  years  ago.  The  earliest  mention 
we  have  of  Samarang  is  in  1719,  when  it  appears  to  have 
consisted  of  a  small  fort  with  a  very  insignificant  number 
of  Europeans  in  it,  and,  outside,  a  few  Chinese  dealers. 

Of  this  fort  and  its  garrison  all  we  know  is  that  the  former 
had  five  sides,  whilst  the  latter  probably  did  not  consist  of 


472  JAVA 

above  thirty  or  forty  men.  In  1741,  however,  Samarang 
had  risen  in  importance,  and  when  the  war  of  1746,  known 
as  the  third  Java  War  of  Succession,  broke  out  it  had  done 
so  still  more.  Nicolaas  Hartingh  was  known  as  the  "  Director 
and  Governor  of  Java's  North  Coast,"  with  headquarters  at 
Samarang ;  he  came  and  arranged  matters  when  the  war 
was  ended  and  split  (1754)  the  empire  of  Mataram  in  two, 
thus  weakening  it  to  the  advantage  of  the  Dutch. 

In  these  days  Samarang  was  considered  the  most  lucrative 
port  for  the  Company's  servants,  and  the  Governor,  Nicolaas 
Hartingh,  in  1754,  although  "  he  never  did  any  business 
outside  what  he  was  entitled  to  !  "  left  to  his  children  more 
than  £100,000  sterling,  one  third  of  which  he  had  made  while 
in  Samarang.^  It  was  one  of  Hartingh's  successors  that  kept 
up  such  tremendous  style  at  Bodjong  in  1787  and  onwards. 

By  this  time  a  wall  had  been  built  round  Samarang,  and 
all  the  Europeans  lived  inside  ;  only  the  Governor  lived 
outside  in  a  large  house,  which  was  built  in  Boeijang  about 
1770  or  earlier.  Boeijang,  we  are  told,  was  more  than  half 
an  hour  from  the  town ;  here  a  company  of  dragoons  was 
stationed  Avhich  turned  out  in  full  dress  spick  and  span 
every  morning  at  7  a.m.,  and  stood  at  attention  in  the 
blazing  sun  until  his  Excellency  had  the  goodness  to  come 
out  in  his  pyjamas  and  thank  the  officer  in  command  and 
give  his  orders  for  the  day.  If  the  Governor  visited  Sama- 
rang the  dragoons  followed  him  as  a  "  life  guard,"  and  on 
entering  the  town  he  was  received  with  a  salute  of  twenty- 
one  guns,  a  similar  honour  being  paid  him  when  departing. 
His  sumptuous  dinners  and  balls  to  the  "  fifty  qualified  rank 
and  fashion  "  of  Samarang  in  those  days  are  worthy  of  a 
book  to  themselves.  Everything  this  gentleman  did  was 
carried  out  in  a  style  far  exceeding  that  ever  assumed  by 
any  European  emperor  or  king ;  a  good  deal  of  this  show, 
however,  was  required  by  the  East  India  Company  on 

^  See  Chapter  XX.,  "  The  Commercial  History  of  Java." 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  473 

account  of  the  Governor's  relations  with  the  important 
Javan  princes,  upon  whom  it  was  very  necessary  to  impress 
the  great  dignity  of  the  Governor.  In  these  early  days 
the  chief  export  was  rice  and  cotton-yarn.  The  principal 
village  then  was  Torabaya. 

The  old  wall,  bits  of  which  can  be  still  seen  here  and 
there,  began  at  Tawang,  where  the  Government  warehouses 
still  stand.  Taking  these  all  in  and  sweeping  with  a  curve 
up  to  Comedy  Street  (Comedie  Straat),  it  ran  down  this 
in  a  line  from  where  the  town  hospital  (Stadsverband)  and 
theatre  are  now  situated,  opposite  a  long  line  of  very  old 
buildings  still  standing,  which  were  the  quarters  of  the 
British  officers  and  their  wives  in  1811.  The  wall  continued 
in  a  straight  line,  cutting  through  the  place  occupied  by  the 
Samarang-Joana  Steam  Tram  Company  for  a  godown. 
Here  another  sweep  was  taken  to  the  right,  and  it  continued 
in  a  straight  line  until  it  came  to  the  river,  then  turning 
again  sharp  off  to  the  right  until  it  reached  the  warehouses 
at  Tawang,  thus  completing  the  square.  There  were  four 
openings  of  portways — one  was  at  Tawang  (this  would  lead 
down  to  the  sea),  one  at  each  end  of  the  Heeren  Straat,  and 
one  at  the  end  of  the  Kerk  Straat  (Church  Street).  The 
part  facing  the  sea  was  destroyed  in  1809,  the  other  three 
parts  in  1824. 

Where  the  old  church  stood  is  not  quite  clear ;  it  has 
been  described,  however,  as  "  a  small  but  fine  church."  At 
the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  fashionable  meeting- 
place  seems  to  have  been  Paradeplein.  An  old  cemetery 
was  near  where  the  office  of  Messrs.  Mirandolle,  Vonte  &  Co. 
now^  stands,  and  one  still  older  near  the  Weduwen  Straat. 
The  centre  of  the  town  in  early  days  was  round  about  the 
Paradeplein,  and  the  breath  of  air  to  be  here  found  must 
have  been  welcome  to  the  English  officers  in  their  cramped 
houses  with  a  high  wall  immediately  opposite  them  prevent- 
ing any  circulation  of  air. 


474  JAVA 

Where  now  the  Hotel  Jansen  stands^  are  some  old  walled- 
in  military  buildings  carrying  the  date  1775.  Here  there 
formerly  stood  a  special  gallows  for  the  soldiers,  who  appear 
to  have  been  of  a  particularly  low  class,  as  executions  and 
strangulations  were  of  almost  daily  occurrence  in  those  days. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  "  society  " 
or  club  was  in  a  building  occupied  now  by  Barendse,  who 
uses  it  for  a  "  garage  "  and  a  shop  in  which  to  keep  motor 
cars. 

In  1811,  when  the  English  took  possession  of  Samarang, 
Captain  Robert  Garnham,  the  first  British  Resident,  took 
up  his  abode  in  the  magnificent  palace  which  was  immedi- 
ately built  in  the  place  of  the  old  one  at  the  very  end  of 
Bodjong.  The  first  old  Government  house,  formerly  the 
residence  of  the  Governor,  from  about  1720  was  near  to  and 
faced  the  river.  It  was  planted  with  shady  trees  and  railed 
round  ;  inside  were  several  fine  apartments,  furnished  in 
European  style.  It  must  have  stood  where  the  gasworks 
now  are.  We  are  told  that  the  town  had  a  neat  appearance, 
with  a  number  of  good  houses  ;  it  has  also  a  fine,  large 
church,  built  in  1794,  a  new  town  house  (in  Paradeplein), 
and  a  variety  of  other  buildings,  both  elegant  and  com- 
modious, not  only  within,  but  also  without  the  city.  There 
was  also  a  mihtary  school.*  The  EngHsh  found  that  the 
"  Dutch  here  showed  a  pleasing  sociabiHty  of  disposition 
and  hilarity  of  behaviour  which  compared  favourably  with 
the  gloomy  indolence  of  the  Batavian  families."  The 
principal  families  lived  in  Tawang,  but  in  the  environs 
(that  is  Bodjong  way)  there  were  numerous  villas. 

The  Chinese  and  native  population  was  already  consider- 
able. Under  the  new  system  of  ground  rental  brought  into 
use  by  Raffles  the  territorial  revenue  for  Samarang  in  1814 
was  508,830  rupees,  exclusive  of  land  assessments  provi- 

*  One  of  the  best  hotels  in  Mid  Java. 

'  I  believe  the  building  which  is  now  used  as  the  hospital. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  475 

sionally  assigned  to  native  chiefs.  The  salt  revenue  was 
200,000,  opium  24,080,  and  the  town  duties  200,000,  making 
a  total  of  1,032,910  rupees. 

At  the  present  day  Samarang  is  a  thriving  town  with  an 
increasing  European  population  of  eight  thousand  and  nearly 
twenty  thousand  Chinese,  Arabs,  and  other  varieties.  The 
present  Government  offices  were  built  in  1854,  the  building 
in  use  previously  to  this  having  been  burnt  down — it  is  said 
on  purpose — by  some  clerk  to  hide  a  deficiency  in  the  cash. 
On  the  hill  below  Djomblang  some  old  Armenian  graves  are 
to  be  seen,  and  in  the  Gegadjie  Hills  is  the  old  private 
cemetery  of  the  families  of  Cranmer  and  Bornemann,  who 
were  buried  here  early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  There 
are  five  pyramids  ;  one  is  to  Lieutenant  C.  G.  H.  Bornemann, 
the  hero  of  the  Demak  fight  in  1825,  related  in  the  last 
chapter.  On  the  road  leading  to  Kendal  is  the  private 
graveyard  of  the  Johannes  family,  an  American  family  of 
high  standing,  who  came  to  Java  at  the  time  of  the  English 
and  did  a  large  merchant's  business  at  Samarang. 

There  is  a  very  good  club  at  Samarang  called  the  "Har- 
monic," built  in  1909,  some  excellent  shops  (Meyer  Hillers- 
trom,  Zikel  Spiegel,  etc.),  and  a  restaurant  or  two  (Sambers 
Hoogvelt,  etc.).  There  are  two  large  churches,  Protestant 
and  Koman  Catholic,  a  handsome  club  or  canteen  for  non- 
commissioned officers,  two  or  three  good  hotels,  the 
principal  being  called  "  Jansen's  "  and  "  Pavihon,"  and 
a  Protestant  orphanage.  This  about  completes  the  list  of 
important  buildings.  A  tramway  service  runs  through  the 
town  into  the  suburbs,  and  the  town  is  served,  like  every 
other  town  in  Java  of  any  importance,  with  a  local  telephone, 
as  also  a  long  land  line  communicating  with  Sourabaya, 
Batavia,  and  other  ports  in  Java.  There  is  a  race  club  here, 
originally  formed  in  1826,  but  after  a  number  of  years  of 
inactivity  re-formed  and  reconstituted  in  1908. 

All  the  British  community,  and  some  of  the  principal 


476  JAVA 

Dutch  families,  live  at  a  place  called  Tjandi,  a  hill  300  feet 
above  Samarang.  Here  are  some  excellent  golf,  cricket, 
hockey,  and  football  clubs  ;  there  is  also  a  social  club  here 
called  the  Tjandi  Club. 

The  town  of  Samarang  is  increasing  in  importance. 

On  the  Kesident's  staff  at  Samarang  in  1813  were  Lieu- 
tenant Cotes,  who  later  on,  in  1821,  became  a  part  owner 
of  the  estate  of  "  Getas  "  with  Gillian  Maclaine,  of  Maclaine, 
Watson  &  Co. ;  there  was  also  a  J.  A.  Doormick,  detached 
to  Japara  and  Joana  for  the  collection  of  customs,  whose 
name  is  still  known  to  the  present  day  in  Middle  Java. 

Later  on  Alexander  London,^  of  the  frigate  Huzzar,  w^orked 
in  the  custom  house  at  Samarang  as  a  senior  clerk,  and  even- 
tually became  collector. 

A  relic  of  the  part  is  the  old  fort  called  "  Prince  Orange," 
still  existing  at  Pontjol,  near  the  race-course. 

In  the  old  cemetery  at  Samarang  on  the  Padaplein  there 
were  formerly  the  following  grave-stones  of  well-known 
Englishmen  who  died  during  the  English  period  : — 

Lieutenant  J.  H.  Aspinwall,  quartermaster  of  the  4th  Bengal 
Battalion  ;  died  on  the  11th  July,  1814. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Butler,  His  Majesty's  Deputy- Adjutant- 
General  of  the  Forces  of  Java  ;  died  on  the  7th  March,  1815. 

Of  later  date  there  is  one  to  James  Crawfurd,^  a  partner  in 
Deans,  Scott  &  Co.  (and  brother  to  John  Crawfurd,  the  Resident 
of  Djockjakarta  and  elsewhere,  and  later  Governor  of  Singapore), 
who  died  on  the  22nd  July,  1820.  The  grave-stones  have  now  all 
been  removed. ^ 

The  register  containing  these  deaths  was  burnt  in  the  fire 
at  the  Eesident's  of&ce  in  1850.  There  are  also  graves  as 
follows : — 

Very  old  grave,  EngHsh  style  ;  name  indeUble  :  Javans  say 
an  Englishman  buried  here. 

1  See  material  to  be  hereafter  published. 

"^  Hie  history  will  be  given  in  material  to  be  published  later. 

»  No  one  knows  where  they  are  I 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC. 


477 


Very  old  grave,  English  style  ;    name  indelible  :    Javans  say 
an  Englishman  buried  here. 


Grabschryft 

EQer  ruhed  in  Gott 

Clara  Louisia  Hoff 

Geborne  om  Friede, 

aus  Vagingen  an  der 

Ens  geburthig, 

Gebohrenden  19  Jany.,  1764. 

Gestorbernden  26  July,  1817 

hi  der  Ehe  gelebt 

28  Jahren. 


Grabschrift 

Hier  ruhet  in 

Gote  Den  Heer 

JoHANN  Jacob  Hoff 

im  leben  Chirugien 

Major  von  het  Regiment 

von  Wurtemberg  Stads 

docter  und  Geburtshelfer 

auf  Samarang  Gebohren  zie. 

Gelnhaussen  au  der  Kuntz 

anno  1762  den  28  April. 
Gestooben  den  15  Mei  1831. 


Hier  Rust 

Onze  gehefde  Vaden 

C.  G.  Remeus. 

Geboren  6  October  1830. 

Overleden  10  Januari  1877. 


Hier  Rust 
Laurens  Nagel 
geboren  22  October  1883. 
Overleden  10  September  1904. 
Ambtenaar  N.  I.  S. 


(Old  cemetery  at  Seteran,  in  Samarang  ;    in  use  in  the 
time  of  the  EngHsh  occupation  of  Java.) 

Hier  Rust  Hier  Rust 

AuGUSTiNA  Elisabeth  Cramer         Carl  Friedich  Cramer  : 
Weduwe  van  Wylen  geboren  den  28  October  1769 ; 

C.  G.  H.  D.  Bornemann  :        gestowen  den  23  January  1824. 

geb.  1  Mei  1802.  Denkt  aan  hem,  met 

Overleden  18  July  1856.  een  aan  U. 


Hier  Rust 

Ajstna  Ruisenaar 

weduve  van  Wylen 

Carl  Friedich  Cramer 

geb  10  April  1784. 


Gewyd 

aan  den  nagedachtenis 

van  myn  gehejden  broeder 

H.    P.    Ch.    HUYGEN    DE    RaAT 

geb  te  's  Gravenhage  19  Mei  1822  ; 


Overleden  25  Mei  1856.    overleden  to  Samarang  9  Januari  1843. 


Hier  Rust 

JoHAN  Friedrich  Bornemann  : 

geb  te  Hanover  27  October  1804  ; 

overleden  to  Samarang  25  Mei  1856. 

Old  private  burial  ground  at  Gegadjie  Hill,  Samarang 
The    tombs    are    in    the    form    of    pyramids. 


478  JAVA 

Hier  Rust 

Johanna  Petronella 

VAN  Son  : 

Gude  niim  4  jaren  ; 

gestorven  Mei  1836. 

(Old  grave  of  a  daughter  of  Resident  van  Son  behind 
Sir  Stamford  Raffles's  old  palace  at  Bodjong, 
Samarang.) 

English  Grave-stones  in  the  Samarang  Cemetery. 
Grave-stone  of  the  English  Time  still  Standing. 

1.  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  George  Hofland,  Esqr.,  Captain 
of  the  Country  Service  ;  departed  this  life  2nd  December,  1818, 
aged  54  years. 

Grave-stones  since  the  English  Time. 

2.  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Joseph  Bremner,  who  departed 
this  Ufe  on  the  14th  May,  1830. 

3.  A  la  memoire  du  capitaine  d'artillerie  Jean  Joseph  Essers, 
ne  a  Raadheim  Limbourg  le  2  Fevrier,  1794  ;  decede  a  Oenarang 
le  19  Avril,  1855.     Sa  femme  et  ses  enfants,  reconnaissants. 

4.  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  James  Craweord  Gray,  born 
Sept.  6th,  1835  ;   died  Nov.  27th,  1865. 

5.  In  memory  of  Eliza  Symons,  born  in  London  25th  January, 
1803  ;  died  at  Samarang  17th  December,  1872.  "  0  thou  my 
God  save  the  servant,  that  trusted  in  thee." 

6.  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mary  Annie,  infant  daughter 
of  George  and  Annie  Henderson,  who  departed  this  life 
May  23rd,  1874. 

7.  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Robert,  the  beloved  son  of  James 
B.  and  Mary  T.  Clark,  born  at  Batavia  on  the  17th  January, 
1875  ;   died  at  Samarang  on  the  23rd  August,  1876. 

8.  Richard  Hutchinson,  bom  January  3rd,  1842  ;  died 
January  10th,  1876. 

9.  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Captain  Salomon  Nickerson,  of 
bark  "  Olustee,"  born  September,  1813  ;  died  November  21st, 
1877  ;   native  of  Chatham,  Mass.,  U.S.  America. 

10.  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Henry  Charles  Do\vnie,  born 
9th  Feb.,  1847  ;   died  25th  Jan.,  1886. 

11.  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Jane  Young  Smail,  aged  28  years, 
beloved  wife  of  Captain  William  Smith,  of  the  British  ship 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  479 

"  Firth  of  Clyde,"  who  departed  this  Ufe  13th  August,  1887,  on 
the  passage  between  Batavia  and  Samarang.     Deeply  regretted. 

12.  In  loving  memory  of  William  Barlow,  died  12th  August, 
1893,  at  Samarang,  aged  65  years.     Not  lost  but  gone  before. 

13.  In  loving  memory  of  James  Munro  Ryerell,  R.N.R., 
Commander  B.  I.  S.  N.  Co.,  who  died  on  board  his  steamer,  the 
"  Satara,"  at  Samarang,  September  29th,  1908,  aged  44  years. 
Deeply  regretted.     Erected  by  his  brother  and  sisters. 

14.  In  memory  of  Ernest  Crawford  Smith,  late  third 
engineer  A.  S.  N.  Co.  s.s.  "  Pasha  "  ;  died  September  6th,  1910, 
aged  24  years.     Erected  by  his  brother  officers. 

EUROPEAN     SENIORS,     CAPTAINS,     RESIDENTS,     OR 
GOVERNORS   OF  SAMARANG,    1708—1911. 

1.  Dutch  East  India  Company's  Period. 

1708.  WUlem  Drost,  merchant. 

1709.  Pieter  Metzu,  senior  merchant. 

1714.  Komelis  Jongbloed,  senior  merchant. 

1715.  Georg  Frederik  Beihvits,  senior  merchant. 
1715.     Gaspar  de  Hartog,  senior  merchant. 

17 17^ — 1721.     Johan  Frederik  Gobius,  captain-general. 

1717 — 1719.     Pieter  Wybers,  merchant. 

1722.     Jacob  Willem  Dubbeldekop,  captain-general. 

1725 — 1726.     Pieter  Gysbert  Noodt,  captain-general. 

1726.     Willem  Tersmitten,  captain. 

1730.     Frederik  JuUus  Coyett,  captain-general. 

1733.     Ryklof  Duyvensz,  captain-general. 

1737,     Nicolras  Crul,  captain-general. 

1739.     Bartholomeus  Vissner,  captain-general. 

1741.     Abraham  Roos. 

1741 — 1744,     Hugo  Veryssel,  commissioner. 

1742 — 1744.     Joan  Herman  Theling,  captain-general. 

1744.     Elso  Sterrenberg,  captain-general. 

1747.  Joan  Andries  Baron  von  Hohendorff,  Governor  (captain- 
general,  1747  ;  Governor  and  Director,  1748). 

1754,     Nicolaas  Hartingh,  Governor. 

1761.     Willem  Hendrik  van  Offenberch,  Governor. 

1765,     Johannes  Vos,  Governor, 

1771,     Johannes  Robbert  van  der  Burgh,  Governor. 

1780,     Johannes  Siberg,  Governor. 

1787.     Jan  Greeve,  Governor. 

1791,     Pieter  Gerardus  van  Overstraten,  Governor. 

1796,  Johan  Fredrik,  Baron  van  Reede  tot  de  Parkeler, 
Governor. 

1  This  year  until  1719  the  power  was  divided. 


480  JAVA 

2.  Java  a  Crown  Colony  of  Holland. 

1803.  Nicolaas  Engelhard,  Governor. 

1809.  Veekens,  acting  Resident. 

1810.  P.  A,  Goldbach,  Resident. 

1811.  J.  H.  Middel  Koop,  Resident. 

3.  English  Occupation  of  Java. 

1812.  Captain  R.  C.  Garnham,  Resident. 

1813.  Colonel  John  Eales,  Resident. 

1814.  William  AinsUe,  Resident  and  Magistrate. 

1815.  John  Crawfurd,  Resident  and  Magistrate. 

4.  Java  again  a  Crown  Colony  of  Holland. 

1816.  H.  A.  Parve,  Appointed  Commissioner  to  take  over  the 
Government  of  Samarang  from  the  EngUsh. 

1816.  J.  de  Bruin,  Resident. 

1819.  M.  N.  Servatius,  Resident. 

1822.  H.  J.  Dormis,  Resident. 

1826.  P.  H.  Lawick  van  Pabst,  Resident. 

1830.  P.  le  Clercq,  Resident. 

1834.  H.  J.  van  Son,  Resident, 

1838.  G.  L.  Band,  Resident. 

1842.  Mr.  J.  F.  M.  van  Nes,  Resident. 

1842.  Jonkheer  J.  W.  H.  Smissaert,  Resident. 

1846.  A.  A.  Buylkes,  Resident. 

1850.  H.  D.  Potter,  Resident. 

1857.  Mr.  D.  C.  A.  Graaf  van  Hogendorp,  Resident. 

1862.  Jonkheer  Ch.  van  Capellen,  Resident. 

1864.  A.  A.  M.  N.  Keuchenius,  Resident. 

1868.  J.  C.  de  Kock  van  Leeuwen,  Resident. 

1868.  E.  H.  A.  van  de  Poel,  Resident. 

1873.  N.  D.  Lammers  van  Toorenburg,  Resident. 

1875.  G.  M.  N.  van  der  Kaa,  Resident. 

1877.  N.  H.  van  der  Hell,  Resident. 

1881.  P.  F.  Wegener,  Resident. 

1884.  T.  M.  van  Vlenten,  Resident. 

1885.  P.  F.  Wegener,  Resident. 
1897.  P.  F.  Sythoff,  Resident. 

1905.     H.  C.  A.  G.  de  Vogel,  Resident. 

Kendal. 

Kendal  is   the  so-called   capital  or  head  place  of  the 
western  division  of  the  Residency  of  Samarang. 

Round  here  are  no  less  than  three  sugar  fabricks  and  fifty- 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  481 

two  coffee,  kina  cocoa,  or  kopak  estates,^  while  there  are  also 
rice,  polowidjo,  tobacco,  and  tea  estates  near. 

In  ancient  days  the  Hindus  had  an  establishment  not  far 
from  here,  and  during  the  old  East  India  Company's  time 
it  was  always  a  place  of  fair  importance,  being  on  the  main 
road. 

Marshal  Daendels  seems  to  have  owned  land  in  this  part 
of  Java  in  1810,  which  his  family  retained  down  to  1840. 

Chbribon. 

This  port  only  came  to  be  known  after  Demak  had 
become  Mahometanised  in  1477,  and  a  "  Sultan  "  of  Cheri- 
bon,  a  representative  of  the  Sultan  of  Demak,  came  and 
settled  here.  It  is  of  course  quite  possible,  and  even  prob- 
able, that  there  was  a  small  kampong  or  village  here  before 
this  dating  from  the  Hindu  period,  as  Cheribon  was  always 
on  the  way  from  the  Preanger  to  the  Samarang  and  Japara 
districts,  which  we  know  were  peopled  at  a  very  early  date. 
Under  the  standard  and  protection  of  the  sultan,  however, 
the  place  made  headway  and  the  population  increased 
rapidly. 

The  Dutch  settled  here  in  1676  and  built  a  fort.  This  the 
English  seized  in  1811.  Cheribon  had  by  this  time  become 
quite  an  important  place,  exporting  rice,  sugar,  coffee, 
pepper,  cotton-yarn,  edible  birds'  nests,  etc.  The  splendour, 
however,  of  its  former  sovereigns  had  already  vanished.  It 
is  true  a  sultan  still  ruled  as  a  sort  of  honorary  distinction, 
but  the  Dutch  had  deprived  him  of  all  power  and  taken  away 
all  liis  possessions,  merely  giving  him  a  pension. 

The  English  after  their  conquest  concluded  an  arrange- 
ment \sith  the  sultan,  who  consented  to  the  internal  adminis- 
tration of  the  country  being  exercised  by  the  British  Govern- 
ment in  consideration  of  his  being  secured  in  possession  of 

>  Nearly  all  of  wMch  at  one  time  belonged  wholly  or  partly  to  the 
Enghsh  firm  of  McNeill  &  Co. 

J. — VOL.  I.  II 


482  JAVA 

certain  tracts  of  land  belonging  to  his  ancestors,  with  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  annual  pension  in  money  which  he  had 
previously  enjoyed.  Accordingly  the  capitation  tax  was 
abolished  and  a  land  rent  introduced,  calculated  according 
to  the  produce  of  the  soil  in  Heu  of  all  arbitrary  contributions 
formerly  delivered  to  Government. 

The  feudal  services  of  the  inhabitants  were  now  abolished, 
and  the  British  Government  agreed  to  pay  an  equitable 
price  for  the  produce  of  the  land  or  the  labours  of  the  people 
when  they  were  required  for  public  service. 

Under  this  arrangement  the  territorial  revenues  of 
Cheribon,  including  the  duties  on  salt,  opium  and  the  town 
customs,  are  given  for  1814  as  being  255,306  rupees,  exclu- 
sive of  the  lands  provisionally  assigned  to  native  chiefs,  the 
value  of  which  amounted  to  34,270  rupees.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  when  the  English  arrived  there  were  four  Arab- 
Javans  at  Cheribon  calling  themselves  "  sultan,"  whose 
ancestors  at  one  time  they  said  held  all  the  country  to  the 
east  as  far  as  Samarang  and  far  into  the  interior  to  the  south 
and  west  to  Bandoeng.  Their  claims  even  included  Buiten- 
zorg  (the  seat  of  the  old  empire  of  Pajajaran). 

At  the  present  day  the  town  is  of  considerable  importance, 
doing  a  large  business  in  sugar,  which  is  shipped  off  for  the 
most  part  by  Van  Putten  &  Co.,  which  firm  does  a  large 
business  at  Tegal  and  Pekalongan  ;  also  Burt,  Myrtle  &  Co. 
have  an  agency  here  under  their  own  name,  but  with  this 
exception  all  the  merchant  houses  here  are  Dutch. 

The  ancient  mosque  and  mausoleum  erected  to  Sheik 
Melana  still  exists,  although  it  is  sadly  decayed.^ 

Cheribon,  Tegal,  and  Pekalongan  are  joined,  not  only  to 
one  another,  but  also  to  Samarang  by  rail. 

From  Cheribon  to  Samarang  is  eleven  hours. 

During  the  British  occupation  the  first  Kesident  here  was 
Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  Eaban. 

1  An  account  of  it  is  given  elsewhere. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  483 

Copy  of  Deed  of  Assignivient  issued  by  Sm  Staiviford  Raffles 

TO    THE    SULTAJSr    OP   ChERIBON. 

"  Deed  of  Assignment  to  Sultan  g^rj^oo  Moohummed 
Kummorood  t-.  i  i  •    i    • 

Shemsood   ^^^^^  ^^^  ^^'^  ^^''«- 

"  Whereas  by  an  agreement  between  Sultan  g^rjpoo  ^^ 
Cheribon  and  the  Government  of  Java  in  the  month  of  July,  1813 
His  Highness  the  said  Sultan  did  voluntarily  transfer  the 
immediate  management  of  the  Revenue  and  Judicial  Administra- 
tion of  that  country  (as  recorded  in  the  Proceedings  of  Govern- 
ment in  the  Separate  and  Revenue  Departments  in  July  1813 
Copy  of  which  is  deposited  in  the  office  of  the  Resident  of  Cheribon) 
for  and  in  consideration  of  an  annual  fixed  payment  in  money 
and  the  assignment  of  certain  Lands  of  which  the  said  Sultan 
should  enjoy  the  Revenues.     This  is  to  certify  that  the  said 

Sultan  gurinoo  ^^^  ^^^  heirs  are  duly  entitled  to  receive  on  this 
account  the  annual  sum  of  eight  thousand  rupees  payable  from 
the  Revenues  of  the  said  District  of  Cheribon  and  further  to 
enjoy  the  Revenues  of  the  land  assigned  to  him  (as  per  Schedule 
here-unto  annexed)  so  long  as  the  arrangement  then  and  therein 
agreed  to  shall  continue  to  be  maintained  by  the  Government, 
of  Java. 

"  Thos.  Raffles, 
*'  M.  Nightingale. 
"  W.  J.  Cranssen. 
"  By  order  of  the  Honble. 

Lieutenant-Governor  in 
Council. 

"  C.  AssEY  (Sec.  to  Govt.) 
"  Council  Chamber,  Batavia,  the  21st  April,  1815. 
"  Assessed    value    of    Lands    per    annum    as    per    schedule 
10096—29 


Rs. 


9710—14    .  "Thos.  Raffles." 

Tegal. 


When  the  English  arrived  this  town,  which  went  under 
the  name  of  "  Taggal,"  was  of  little  importance.  There  was 
a  Resident  and  a  few  of  the  old  Company's  servants,  who 
received  into  the  Company's  warehouse  the  produce  delivered 

ii2 


484  JAVA 

under  forced  contract  with  the  local  pangeran  or  prince. 
There  were  no  military.  A  big  kampong  had,  however,  risen 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  there,  and  a  considerable  number 
of  Chinamen,  as  elsewhere,  had  established  themselves  here. 
Even,  however,  in  those  days  there  was  a  small  church,  and, 
although  there  were  no  military,  a  fort,  which  still  stands, 
was  there  to  retreat  to  in  case  of  any  rising  by  the  natives. 

The  town  was  described  as  of  neat  appearance,  the 
Eesident's  house  being  a  handsome  building  and  very  com- 
modious.^ Tegal  was  always  a  very  fertile  land,  and  was 
looked  upon  as  the  granary  for  Batavia  and  the  eastern 
islands. 

The  net  land  rental  when  the  new  arrangement  made  by 
KafEes  came  into  force  is  given  for  the  year  1814  as  245,653 
rupees. 

Since  those  days  Tegal  has  grown,  and  the  town  is  to-day 
a  busy  and  thriving  one,  the  sugar  shipped  off  reaching 
large  figures. 

In  1811  the  first  British  Eesident  was  Lieutenant- Colonel 
J.  R.  Keasberry,  the  forerunner  in  Java  of  a  well-known 
family  which  later  on  had  a  great  deal  of  influence  in 
Pasoeroean.^ 

There  is  at  Tegal  a  stone  to  the  memory  of  this  Resident, 
who  died  whilst  in  office  on  the  29th  April,  1814. 

Pekalongan. 

Pekalongan,  or  as  it  was  called  at  the  time  of  the  English 
*'  Paccalongang,"  is  282  miles  from  Batavia  and  of  compara- 
tively recent  growth. 

In  1810  there  was  a  Dutch  Resident  here,  and  a  numerous 
native  and  Chinese  population,  but  not  many  Dutch 
families.     In  earlier  days  Pekalongan  was  governed  by  a 

1  It  still  stands  just  outside  the  fort. 

2  A  descendant  is  at  this  day  in  the  firm  of  Fraser,  Eaton  &  Co.,  Soura- 
baya. 


kand.ien(i  pangakax  hark)  adi  soerio. 
(son  of  the  sultan  by  a  secon- 
dary WIFE.) 


(iOESTI  PANciAKAX  HARlU  TED.TO  KOE- 
SOEMO.  (son  of  THE  SULTAN  AND 
THE  RATU,) 


KANDJENG  PANOARAN  ARIO  SOERIO  DI 
NIGRAT.   (son  of  THE  SULTAN.) 


KANDJENG  PANGARAN  PAHOE  NINGRAT. 
(son  OF  THE  SULTAN  BY  A  SECON- 
DARY WIFE.) 


THE    TOWNS    m   JAVA,    ETC.  485 

''junior  merchant"  (onder  koopman),  and  produced  rice 
and  sugar.  The  great  miHtary  road  constructed  by  Daendels 
with  forced  labour  ran  through  Cheribon,  Tegal  and  Peka- 
longan,  and  near  Batang.  In  the  last-named  province  a 
large  number  of  natives  are  said  to  have  perished  whilst 
making  the  road  through  the  wild  marshy  forest.  Daendels 
insisted  on  its  being  carried  through  in  a  given  time,  and  is 
even  said  to  have  proceeded  to  the  spot  to  hang  the  regent 
if  it  was  not  ready. 

Near  Kendal  is  the  river  Bodri,  which  Daendels  was  able 
to  cross  in  his  carriage,  there  not  being  much  water  in  it ; 
he,  however,  sent  for  the  regent  and  threatened  him  with 
dire  consequences  if  there  was  not  a  bridge  for  him  to  cross 
over  on  his  return  journey.  The  story  goes  that  the  regent, 
being  unable  to  carry  this  out,  ordered  several  hundred 
natives  into  the  river  when  Daendels  returned,  and  on  their 
heads  placed  broad  and  long  planks,  exhibiting  a  large  even 
surface  of  Avoodwork ;  across  this  in  his  carriage  and  four 
Daendels  is  said  to  have  driven.  The  revenue  in  1814  was 
346,176  rupees.  To-day  Pekalongan  is  a  fair-sized  town, 
with  a  large  sugar  export. 

The  first  British  Resident  in  1811  was  Mr.  J.  C.  Lawrence. 

Japara. 

Japara  is  a  place  of  great  antiquity,  having  been  inhabited 
about  two  thousand  years  ago.  It  was  the  principal  outlet 
for  the  first  and  earliest  empire  of  Mataram.^  It  was  also 
one  of  the  first  Dutch  and  English  establishments  in  the 
Eastern  Seas. 

At  the  time  of  Raffles  the  town  and  the  fort  were  on  the 
west  side  of  the  peninsula  ;  and  there  was  an  old  Moorish 
stone  temple  with  some  beautiful  sculptures  of  images 
and  shrubs  at  least  four  hundred  years  old.     The  Chinese 

1  Mendang  Kamulan. 


486  JAVA 

inhabitants  here  in  1811  were  numerous,  but  the  town  has 
decUned,  being  to-day  of  no  importance  whatever. 

Governor  Hartingh  visited  this  place  about  1790,  sending 
his  dragoons  (mentioned  under  the  heading  of  "  Samarang  ") 
ahead  of  him  to  cheer  him  on  his  arrival.  He  left  Samarang 
at  midnight,  the  forts  saluting  him  with  one  hundred  and 
one  guns  and  all  the  musketeers  letting  off  their  muskets  as 
he  embarked.  Something,  however,  occurred  to  prevent 
his  sailing,  so  he  returned  to  his  palace  at  Bodjong  next 
morning,  again  to  a  salute  of  one  hundred  and  one  guns  and 
musket  fire,  and  attended  by  all  the  high  authorities  and 
qualified  ladies  and  gentlemen,  etc.  The  following  day  he 
found  he  could  go  after  all,  and  once  more  re-embarked  after 
much  hand-shaking  from  the  said  high  authorities,  etc.,  and 
the  same  salute  of  one  hundred  and  one  guns  and  musket 
fire. 

Srondol  (Serondel). 

At  the  present  day  a  small  village  between  Samarang  and 
Oenarang  goes  by  the  name  of  Srondol.  When  the  English 
were  in  the  island,  however,  Serondel  was  a  rather  important 
place,  being  the  headquarters  of  the  78th  Eegiment  under 
Major  D.  Forbes.  As  there  were  eight  hundred  men  in  this 
regiment  it  seemed  that  the  camp,  which  was  defended  with 
seven  cannon,  must  have  been  a  considerable  one. 

There  are  seven  guns  lying  at  Serondel  on  the  right-hand 
side  of  the  main  road,  a  very  little  distance  past  the  village, 
which  some  say  are  the  same. 

The  house  in  which  Major  Forbes,  who  was  "  commandant 
of  Serondel,"  lived  is  also  still  standing,  but  is  in  a  dilapi- 
dated condition.  It  is  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the  main 
road  when  travelling  from  Samarang,  and  until  recently  was 
used  as  a  country  house  by  a  merchant  and  shopkeeper  of 
Samarang  called  Akoewan. 

The  country  was  described  by  an  English  officer  who  had 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  487 

been  at  Serondel  as  *'  delightful,  populous  and  well 
cultivated,  yielding  provisions,  vegetables  and  supplies  of 
all  kind,  cheap  and  in  great  abundance." 

Obnarang. 

CThis  is  merely  a  small  inland  town  with  a  fort  built  in 
1746,  and  called  "  De  Outmoeting  "  because  it  was  the  meet- 
ing place  of  the  Governor-General  van  Imluff  and  the 
Emperor  Paku  Buvana  II.  It  is  on  the  main  road  to  the 
native  capitals  of  Soeracarta  and  Djockjacarta^ ;  a  company 
of  the  78th  Regiment  was  stationed  there  in  the  English 
time.  The  country  all  round  is  pleasing  and  very  healthy, 
the  town  having  been  in  fact  chosen  as  a  suitable  spot  for  a 
military  hospital.  It  is  also  a  spot  chosen  by  several 
wealthy  brokers  from  Samarang  (which  is  only  about 
fifteen  miles  distant)  in  which  to  build  country  villas  ;  these 
are  called  villas  by  courtesy — in  actual  size  and  form  they 
are  elegant  and  large  pavilions.^  J 

There  is  a  stone  here  to  the  memory  of  Captain  Norman 
McLeod,  of  the  78th  Regiment,  who  died  on  the  17th 
February,  1814,  aged  27  years,  while  his  regiment  was 
stationed  at  Serondel.^ 

Salatiga. 

[Salatiga*  was  the  place  chosen  for  the  next  fort  after 
Oenarang  on  the  main  road  from  Samarang  to  the  courts  of 

'  The  fort  was  rebuilt  and  strengthened  in  1786. 

2  Among  them  those  of  Messrs.  A.  K.  W.  Prins,  Monod  de  Froideville, 
and  B.  Companyen  are  conspicuous. 

^  Since  writing  the  above  I  visited  Serondel  for  the  express  purpose  of 
inspecting  this  stone.  This  I  found  to  my  regret  had  been  stolen.  The 
place,  however,  where  it  stood  was  pointed  out  to  me.  It  was  in  the  garden 
of  the  family  Butin  Bik.  When  this  family  came  to  the  house  a  year  or  so 
ago  (1911)  a  mound  was  pointed  out  to  them  as  the  grave  of  an  "  English 
general."  There  were  bones  sticking  out  of  it.  These  the  family  collected 
together,  put  into  a  box,  and  reverently  sank  deep  into  the  ground,  making 
the  ground  flat.     They  know  the  place,  however. 

*  A  name  derived  from  the  Malay  words  sallah  (a  fault  or  crime)  and 


488  JAVA 

the  native  princes  ;  this  fort  was  built  in  1746.  There  is  a 
fairly  large  Dutch  garrison  here  nowadays,  consisting  of 
cavalry  and  artillery  in  the  main.  Being  1,600  feet  high, 
the  town  is  one  of  the  health  resorts  of  Middle  Java ;  a 
military  hospital  has  therefore  been  erected  here.J  The  place 
is  known  as  that  from  which  Governor- General  Janssens 
sent  his  dispatch  to  General  Samuel  Auchmuty  capitulating 
the  island  to  the  English  in  1811.  [The  population,  excluding 
the  military  force,  consists  of  about  100  Europeans,  7,500 
Javans,  1,500  Chinese,  and  about  50  Arabs  and  other 
Asiatics.} 

In  1811  the  British  had  stationed  here  the  Java  Light 
Cavalry  and  the  Horse  Artillery,  the  commandant  being 
Major  L.  E.  O'Brien, 
fin  1812  the  British  started  the  Salatiga  Eacing  Club/] 

BOJOLALI. 

Bojolah,  or  as  the  English  called  it  in  1811  "  BoyolalHe," 
is  another  small  inland  to^vn  which  rose  into  significance  in 
1746  when  the  present  fort  called  "  De  Veldwachter  "  was 
built.  It  is  on  the  main  road  to  the  native  courts  and 
situated  in  a  beautiful  and  fertile  country.  Not  far  off  is 
the  volcano  Merapi,  which  now- and  again  casts  forth  lava. 
On  some  old  lava  is  still  to  be  seen  the  imprint  of  a  human 
foot  and  hand,  probably  of  some  unfortunate  native  who 
was  caught  in  a  torrent  during  an  eruption.  The  view  from 
the  top  of  this  mountain  is  sublime,  and  well  repays  the 
fatigue  of  a  troublesome  journey.  From  here  can  be  seen 
the  country  for  many  miles  around,  and  no  one  who  has 
not  seen  such  a  sight  can  imagine  the  beauty  of  the  scene — 

tiga  (the  numeral  "three"),  consequently  meaning  "third  fault."  This 
pretty  spot  came  by  its  name  from  three  large  stones  outside  the  village 
Tadjoeh  on  a  side  of  the  mountain  Merbaboe,  which  lie  in  a  smaU  river. 
The  dates  marked  on  these  stones  are  1360  and  1363  (probably  the  dates 
are  of  the  old  Java  chronology),  and  there  is  a  legend  wherein  occurs  a 
curse  by  a  high  priest  attached  to  them,  too  long,  however,  to  relate  here. 


THE    TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  489 

forests,  villages,  the  towns  of  Soeracarta  and  Djockjacarta, 
even  the  sohtary  mountains  of  Cheribon  and  Tegal,  un- 
rolling themselves  one  after  the  other  to  the  naked  eye  as  it 
scans  the  landscape  to  the  horizon. 

Since  1878  this  place,  from  a  miUtary  point  of  view,  has 
become  of  no  importance  Avhatever. 

It  is  now  connected  with  Soeracarta  by  rail,  but  as  late 
as  1908  the  connection  was  only  by  a  disgracefully  dirty 
and  dilapidated  and  antiquated  horse  tram. 

There  is  a  good  Dutch  school  here,  and  an  apology  for  an 
hotel. 

Demak. 

Demak  is  a  large  and  populous  towTi,  having  been  the 
capital  of  a  kingdom  that  once  existed  of  that  name.  There 
is  a  canal  running  from  Samarang  to  this  place,  navigable 
for  small  vessels.  It  runs  alongside  the  road,  which  is  thus 
sandwiched  the  whole  way  from  Samarang,  between  the 
river  on  the  one  side  and  the  tramway  on  the  other. 

Since  the  time  that  the  Prince  of  Demak  turned  Mahome- 
tan in  1477  this  place  has  been  looked  upon  by  the  natives 
as  being  more  or  less  of  a  sacred  city,  and  to  visit  at  a 
certain  time  of  the  year  the  celebrated  Missigit  or  temple 
built  in  1478  by  Raden  Patah  and  rebuilt  in  1845  is  the 
desire  of  all  the  people  of  mid  Java,  and  to  do  this  seven 
times  is  supposed  to  be  equal  to  a  visit  to  Mecca. 

Near  the  Missigit  are  the  graves  of  the  three  well-known 
princes  of  Demak — Panembahan  Djimboen,  PangeranI 
Sabrang  Lor,  and  Pangeran  Trenggono.  Of  the  original 
palace  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  seen.  Demak  is  connected 
by  road  with  Japara  on  the  one  side  and  Serondel  and 
Oenarang  on  the  other.  This  road,  which  runs  from 
Japara  to  Djockjacarta,  is  the  oldest  in  the  island,  having 
existed  long  before  the  Europeans  appeared.^ 

1  See  below. 


490  JAVA 

The  road  to  the  east  passes  through  Koedoes  and  Pati, 
both  fairly  large  towns.  At  the  former  very  fine  wood- work 
is  cut  by  the  natives,  equal  to  anything  to  be  found  in 
British  India. 

JOANA. 

Joana  is  on  the  same  road  as  Demak,  this  being  in  point 
of  fact  the  great  military  road  which  General  Daendels  was 
mainly  instrumental  in  constructing  in  1808. 

Joana  is  quite  a  pleasant  little  spot,  and  fairly  healthy. 
It  is  the  shipping  port  of  one  or  two  sugar  factories,  but  is 
otherwise  of  no  importance,  having  in  fact  only  one  business 
house.  There  is  a  little  fort  here,  which,  however,  is  no 
longer  occupied.  The  river  on  the  banks  of  which  the  town 
has  been  built  is  here  a  very  fine  one,  and  fairly  large  vessels, 
once  they  are  over  the  bar,  can  sail  up  it  for  some  distance. 

It  is  spanned  by  a  floating  bridge  fixed  on  boats,  and  is 
sometimes  very  dangerous  when  in  flood.  There  is  a  small 
hotel,  and,  as  is  found  everywhere  else  in  Java  where  there 
are  one  or  two  Europeans,  there  is  a  "  society  "  or  club. 

During  the  time  the  English  were  in  Java  the  territorial 
revenue  of  Japara  and  Joana  was  342,902  rupees. 

In  the  eighteenth  century  Joana  was  under  the  control 
of  a  "  junior  merchant,"  who  looked  after  the  export  of  rice, 
timber,  indigo,  and  cotton-yarn  which  this  district  supplied. 
In  these  days  (1750)  Joana  consisted  of  two  rows  of  houses, 
built  along  the  river.  The  junior  merchant  first  lived  inside 
the  fort,  but  a  special  house  was  later  on  built  for  him  by  a 
man  called  Haack,  who  was  sent  to  Joana  to  rebuild  the 
fort,  which  was  not  considered  strong  enough.  The  descrip- 
tion of  this  house  in  an  old  account  is  as  follows. 

The  building  consisted  of  two  blocks  opposite  to  each 
other  connected  by  a  lofty  dome  fully  25  feet  in  diameter, 
supported  by  four  columns  of  the  "  Tuscan  "  order.     Both 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  491 

these  blocks  were  of  one  storey  only,  and  were  60  feet  long 
and  25  feet  broad  within  the  walls.  One  of  them  formed  a 
single  hall  of  these  dimensions,  but  the  other  was  divided 
into  three  apartments  :  the  middle  one,  which  was  25  feet 
in  depth  and  about  16  feet  in  breadth,  was  opposite  to  the 
door  of  the  "  great  hall  "  and  to  the  "  gi'eat  dome,"  and  was 
fitted  up  as  a  chapel ;  the  entrance  to  it  was  through  a 
*'  handsome  arch  "  or  portico  ;  on  each  side  of  it  was  a 
large  chamber  of  the  same  size.  The  walls  of  these  apart- 
ments were  "  beautifully  stuccoed,  adorned  with  sumptuous 
gilt  cornices,  and  the  roofs  were  concave,  wainscotted,  and 
curiously  adorned  with  carved  imagery." 

Behind  this  pile  stood  a  building  of  wood  containing  three 
"  handsome  rooms,"  and  above  this  was  "  one  large  apart- 
ment for  the  unmarried  female  slaves,  and  which  might 
therefore  be  called  the  seraglio." 

In  front  of  this  building  stood  a  large  saloon  built  close 
to  the  river-side,  with  a  balcony  projecting  towards  the 
river ;  and  we  are  told  that  the  only  inconvenience  there 
was  in  sitting  here  was  the  swarms  of  mosquitoes  which 
infested  the  place  every  evening. 

The  junior  merchant  used  to  make  about  16,000  rix 
dollars  yearly  in  perquisites,  say  £3,500.  This  came  from 
over- weight  in  rice  delivered  by  the  native  regents  to  the 
Company  and  from  the  cheap  rate  at  which  this  article  was 
purchased,  not  to  mention  what  he  bought  up  liimself  and 
resold  to  the  natives  at  100  per  cent,  profit.  Shipbuilding 
was  also  very  profitable  for  the  junior  merchant  or  the 
Resident,  for  the  wood  and  labour  cost  him  practically 
nothing.  In  1774  a  vessel  was  built  here  on  the  model  of 
some  Dutch  vessel  and  was  sold  with  a  profit  of  18,000  rix 
dollars.     But  a  chance  like  this  was  exceptional. 

There  w^ere  also  profits  attached  to  the  farming  of  the 
duties  which  accrued  nominally  to  the  fanner,  a  Chinaman, 
but  these  the  Resident  in  olden  days  would  seem  to  have 


492  JAVA 

appropriated  for  himself.  It  was  all  quite  legitimate  and 
regular,  as  the  Company's  servants  were  expected  to  make 
all  they  could  while  "  at  it."  A  few  days  before  the  new 
year  the  regents  and  patehs,  and  also  all  those  who  had  any 
connection  with  the  Company,  came  to  make  presents  to 
the  Kesident,  consisting  of  poultry,  eggs,  sugar,  fruit,  etc. 
The  Chinese  captain  brought  rolls  of  valuable  silks. 

On  the  1st  January,  1775,  the  usual  salute  of  twenty-one 
guns  was  fired  at  sunrise  from  some  small  cannon  stationed 
before  the  junior  merchant's  house.  On  this  occasion  a 
European,  a  strong  and  corpulent  man,  who  acted  as  gunner, 
"  met  with  a  terrible  accident."  Just  as  he  was  passing 
before  the  muzzle  of  one  of  the  guns,  the  priming  of  which 
had  flashed  without  discharging  the  piece,  it  went  off,  and 
blew  him  six  feet  into  the  air.  The  loading,  it  appeared,  had 
fortunately,  however,  been  rammed  down  without  a  wad, 
"  so  that  he  was  picked  up  still  very  much  alive,  and  beyond 
being  badly  burnt  on  his  arms  and  leg  was  otherwise  all 
right." 

On  the  3rd  January  the  Eesident  would  return  the  call  on 
the  regent,  spending  the  evening  there  in  eating  and  drinking 
and  watching  the  dancing  girls. 

The  account  of  this  return  visit  on  the  3rd  January,  1775, 
may  be  interesting. 

The  Kesident,  in  making  his  visit,  did  so  in  state  and  was 
received  in  state  to  the  music  of  the  gamelans  and  other 
instruments.  The  regent's  favourite  wife,  his  mother,  and 
his  son  joined  the  party  and  drank  tea  with  them.  In  the 
evening  after  supper,  the  dancing  girls  being  introduced,  the 
regent's  sons  *'  tandacked  "  ^  with  them.  The  regent's  wives 
were  not  present  at  this,  but  as  soon  as  the  dancing  girls  had 
disappeared  they  came  in. 

At  the  present  day  these  old  customs  are  still  adhered  to 
in  Java. 

'  Cut  extravagant  figures. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  493 

Rembang. 

Rembang  is  situated  on  the  eastern  part  of  the  bay 
formed  by  the  Japara  promontory.  In  former  days  the 
Dutch  built  their  principal  vessels  and  gunboats  here  and 
maintained  a  fairly  considerable  garrison.  The  old  fort, 
built  originally  about  1650,  still  exists  in  form,  but  a  portion 
of  it  was  demolished  when  the  house  for  the  Resident  was 
built. 

In  olden  days  the  sea  washed  the  walls  of  the  fort,  but 
since  then  it  has  receded,  the  fort  being  now  some  little 
distance  from  the  sea  even  at  high  tide.  There  is  no  doubt 
from  its  general  appearance  and  the  fine  houses  which  still 
exist,  although  empt}^  that  Rembang  has  seen  better  and 
greater  days.  Even  as  late  as  the  English  time,  when  John 
Davidson^  was  the  first  Resident,  it  is  described  as  large  and 
populous  and  with  very  good  houses.  It  was  also  considered 
then  socially  a  cheerful  and  pleasant  place  to  live  in.  To-day 
it  is  one  of  the  most  miserable  and  doleful  places  in  Java. 
Formerly  it  was  considered  very  healthy  ;  to-day  it  is  just 
the  reverse.  The  result  is  that  everything  seems  out  of 
place,  the  fine  Resident's  house  and  the  large  club  appearing 
incongi'uous  in  what  is  a  veritable  forgotten  hole.^  The  old 
church  here  is  about  two  hundred  years  old.  In  1811  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  sea  salt  was  manufactm-ed  here,  and 
the  territorial  revenue  was  256,092  rupees.  From  here 
there  is  a  direct  road  to  Solo. 

Rembang  is  one  of  the  oldest  places  in  Java,  and  is  where 
the  first  Chinaman  who  visited  Java  (a.d.  413),  F.  A.  Hien 
by  name,  landed.^ 

^  See  material  to  be  hereafter  published.  A  relation,  another  John 
Davidson,  was  the  founder  of  this  firm. 

2  Rembang  has  also  seen  two  Residents  who  belonged  to  the  w  ell-known 
Smissaert  family,  Jonkheer  A.  H.  and  J.  W.  H.  ;  and  at  the  present  time 
there  is  Jonkheer  J.  "W.  H.  Smissaert,  who  is  a  pubhc  notary  there. 

^  An  account  of  F.  A.  Hien  is  given  in  Chapter  III. 


494  JAVA 

Lassbm. 

Nine  miles  from  Rembang  and  419  from  Batavia  we  come 
to  Lassem,  which  is  on  the  main  road.  For  fifteen  hundred 
years  Chinese  have  been  residing  in  the  stretch  of  coast  land 
reaching  from  Rembang  to  Gressie,  and  to-day  the  popula- 
tion of  Lassem  is  almost  wholly  Chinese.  Formerly,  that  is 
to  say  at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  small 
vessels  from  fifty  to  two  hundred  tons  used  to  be  constructed 
here,  wood  being  always  procurable  in  any  quantities  from 
the  neighbouring  teak  forests,  w^hich  then,  as  now,  are  very 
extensive. 

Until  quite  recently  a  number  of  the  Chinese  here  used  to 
go  to  Sourabaya,  where  plenty  of  work  was  always  obtain- 
able from  the  Chinese  furniture-makers  there.  Of  recent 
years,  however,  they  have  ceased  to  do  so,  a  good  many  of 
them  going  in  for  local  wood- work  of  a  particularly  fine  kind. 

TOEBAN. 

The  Hindu  town  of  Tuban,  or  as  now  it  is  called  Toeban 
(called  in  the  Enghsh  time  "  Toubang  "),  is  a  large  and 
populous  town  with  an  ancient  mosque.  Chinese  have  been 
residing  here  quite  as  long  as  at  Lassem,  but  the  place  has 
never  become  an  important  one.  Extensive  teak  forests 
stretch  over  these  rocky  and  hilly  tracts  right  up  to  Sedayoe, 
which  is  situated  at  the  entrance  of  the  Sourabaya  harbour. 
Shipbuilding  used  formerly  to  be  undertaken  here. 

Not  far  from  Sedayoe  is  the  Solo  river,  which  was  crossed 
by  a  ferry  in  the  days  of  Raffles  and  the  passage  defended 
by  a  strong  battery.  This  river,  the  largest  in  Java,  is  not 
only  very  broad,  but  very  deep,  and  in  the  rainy  season, 
once  the  bar  is  crossed,  it  is  navigable  for  fairly  large  ships 
right  up  to  the  town  of  Soeracarta.  The  Englishman 
Captain  Colebrooke,  of  the  Royal  Artillery,  made  a  survey 
of  the  river  in  1813,  and  was  of  opinion  that  the  impediments 


THE    TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  495 

which  obstructed  the  passage  in  the  dry  season  could  with- 
out much  labour  or  expense  be  removed.  The  Dutch,  how- 
ever, have  never  much  cared  about  improving  the  navigation 
of  this  river. 

Toeban  has  been  known  from  time  immemorial  as  the 
"  place  of  sweet  waters  "  ;  and  it  is  quite  true  that  there  are 
several  fountains  with  water  of  a  flavour  not  to  be  found 
anywhere  else.  Special  mention  is  made  of  them  in  a 
Chinese  work  dated  a.d.  1416. 

Gressib  (or   Gresik). 

Gressie  during  the  period  contemporaneous  with  the 
empire  of  Majapahit  was  already  a  very  important  place, 
having  a  large  Chinese  population,  who  sold  the  goods  which 
arrived  yearly  from  China  in  nine  junks.  When  the  Portu- 
guese arrived  the  head  of  the  place  was  a  Chinaman.  A 
want  of  good  water  and  the  general  unhealthiness  of  the 
place  may  be  taken  to  be  in  a  great  measure  the  chief  causes 
of  its  decline  ;  but  in  proportion  as  Gressie  fell  into  decay 
so  the  comparatively  new  town  of  Sourabaya  rose  rapidly 
in  population  and  prosperity.  It  was  at  Gressie  that  the 
founder  of  the  Mahometan  religion  in  Java  (Sheik  den  Islam 
Maulana  Malik  Ibrahim)  landed,  preached,  and  died.  His 
tomb  is  still  to  be  seen,  and  is  situated  on  the  hills  behind 
Gressie. 

The  first  and  only  Kesident  here  during  the  British  occu- 
pation was  C.  van  Naerssen  (a  Dutchman) — this  w^as  in 
1814 ;  before  then  he  had  only  carried  the  title  of  "  collec- 
tor "  under  the  Resident  of  Sourabaya. 

The  families  of  de  Graaf  and  Lotti  had  considerable 
influence  here  towards  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  on  reference  to  the  list  of  Dutch  Residents  in  1818  it 
will  be  seen  that  they  were  fairly  numerous  then. 

In  a  translation  of  the  Chinese  book  of  Tung  Hsi  Yang 


496  JAVA 

K'an  of  the  year  1618  by  W.  Groeneveldt,  the  following 
extract  regarding  Gressie  is  interesting  : — 

"  Sukitan  is  a  dependency  of  Java,  and  has  many  different 
settlements,  of  which  Grisse  is  the  chief  place.  At  Grisse  there 
is  a  king  ^  more  than  a  hundred  years  old  and  can  predict  future 
events.  The  people  of  this  country  go  to  Yortan  ^  in  order  to 
trade  with  the  Chinese.  The  anchorage  of  the  Chinese  ships  is 
at  Yortan,  which  is  a  flat  country  with  a  fortress  built  of  stones. 
When  the  chief  of  this  place  goes  out,  he  rides  in  a  carriage 
drawn  by  four  or  eight  horses  or  by  oxen,  and  is  accompanied 
by  more  than  a  hundred  attendants,  with  arms  and  insignia  of 
his  dignity.  When  the  natives  see  their  king  they  conceal 
themselves  ;  only  the  women  fold  their  hands,  and  squat  down 
at  the  side  of  the  road  ;  for  the  rest  their  customs  are  similar 
to  those  of  Ha  Kang  [Bantam].  The  neighbouring  countries 
are  Sourabaya  and  Yuban.  In  Tuban  there  are  many  robbers, 
and  therefore  the  Chinese  will  not  Uve  there.  They  have  there 
the  second  son  of  the  king,  whose  body  weighed  some  hundreds 
of  catties  when  he  was  only  about  ten  years  old  ;  he  was  once 
stolen  by  robbers,  but  they  could  not  Uft  him,  and  now  he  has 
been  made  a  Datu.^  Behind  Yortan  are  the  moim.tains  Kim  Ho 
[Tengger],  which  are  covered  with  Bamboo  forests  and  where 
the  melati  grows  without  cultivation.  The  inhabitants  all  go 
naked,  and  only  wear  a  piece  of  paper  to  cover  the  lower  part  of 
their  body  ;  they  plant  beans  for  food,  and  the  able-bodied 
amongst  them  are  good  hunters,  chasing  bucks,  deer,  apes, 
monkeys,  which  they  eat,  after  sHghtly  roasting  them  ;  when 
thirsty  they  drink  the  blood,  to  which  they  take  wine  made  from 
a  tree.     They  never  come  down  from  their  mountains. 

"  Grisse  is  subject  to  Java,  but  rules  over  Yortan,  Sourabaya, 
and  other  countries.  When  our  vessels  [Chinese]  arrive  in  these 
parts,  the  different  dependent  places  all  come  to  Yortan  to  trade 
with  the  Chinese,  and  though  it  is  an  out  of  the  way  place  it  still 
is  very  prosperous.  Formerly  the  transactions  were  made  on 
board  the  ships,  but  lately  the  number  of  traders  having  increased, 
they  have  gradually  made  shops  on  shore." 

1  An  Arab. 

2  A  trading  port  on  the  river  Brantas,  near  the  present  town  of 
Bangil. 

Batu. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  497 

Pasoeroean. 

Pasoeroean,  or  as  it  was  formerly  spelt  "  Passarouang," 
is  an  old  town  dating  probably  back  to  a.d.  1294.  In  the 
Chapter  (XII.)  on  travellers'  accounts  of  Java  we  read  the 
description  given  by  the  Portuguese  traveller  Mendez  Pinto 
of  the  Prince  of  Demak  attacking  this  town  with  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Sultan  of  Bantam.  He  also  tells  us  of  the  strength 
of  the  city  then  and  the  number  of  the  population.  It  was, 
however,  only  in  1707  that  the  Dutch  East  India  Company 
sent  a  representative  here,  De  Wilde  by  name,  who  im- 
mediately built  a  fort.  Even,  however,  in  the  time  of  the 
English  the  European  population  was  very  small,  and  what 
there  was  of  it  were  mostly  pensioners  and  half-caste  families. 

An  English  officer  described  Pasoeroean  as  a  delightful 
place  with  a  very  healthy  climate  ;  and  this  is  true. 

The  Resident's  house  and  several  other  buildings  were 
described  in  1811  as  quite  handsome. 

The  Protestant  church  w^as  rebuilt  in  1857,  and  a  Roman 
Catholic  one  was  erected  in  1895. 

In  the  fifties  and  sixties  the  principal  hotel  here  was 
*'  Booth's  Hotel,"  which  was  kept  by  an  Englishman  and 
his  wife,  Captain  and  Mrs.  Booth.^ 

Probolingo.^ 

Twenty-four  miles  from  Pasoeroean  is  Probolingo,  which 
was  the  old  capital  of  the  whole  of  these  two  Residencies 
and  of  Bezoeki.  In  1812  it  was  administered  by  the  British 
Resident  Dr.  David  Hopkins,  in  1813  by  Captain  R.  C. 

^  Captain  Booth  arrived  in  Java  in  the  fifties  in  a  sailing  ship,  and  found 
land  employment  with  the  well-known  Etty  family  of  Probolingo  (his 
father  had  probably  been  in  their  service),  but  falling  out  with  one  of  them 
he  set  up  a  hotel.     He  died  in  the  nineties  at  a  great  age. 

The  first  British  Resident  here  was  Lieutenant  Henry  George  Jourdan  in 
1814  ;  before  this  he  had  carried  the  title  of  "  collector,"  and  was  under 
the  Resident  of  Probolingo. 

-  Sometimes  spelt  Probolinggo. 

J. — VOL.  I.  K  K 


498  JAVA 

Garnham,  and  in  1814  by  M.  D.  Ainslie,  when  the  latter 
went  to  Djockjacarta  to  replace  Crawfurd.  In  1815  the 
Eesident  was  Mr.  John  Davidson,  a  daughter  of  whose 
married  Jonkheer  Smissaert,  a  son  of  M.  A.  P.  Smissaert, 
who  was  Eesident  at  Palembang  after  the  departure  of  the 
English  and  later  on  at  Probolingo.  In  1790  the  whole  of 
the  Kesidencies  of  Probolingo  and  Panoeroekau,  under  which 
were  Pasoeroean,  and  Bezoekie  as  well,  were  hired  to  a 
Chinaman,  who  held  sovereign  rights  of  every  kind  over  the 
country.  In  1808,  however,  when  Daendels  arrived,  he 
required  more  money,  and  amongst  the  lands  he  sold  were 
the  above-named  to  the  same  Chinaman  for  ten  milhons  of 
rix  dollars  payable  by  instalments.  In  1813,  however,  after 
the  trouble  at  Probolingo,  Baffles  bought  back  all  these 
lands  ;  when  the  Chinaman,  who  now  received  the  title  of 
"  major,"  took  over  the  lands  they  were  wild  forests,  but 
so  hard  did  he  turn  the  natives  on  to  the  soil  that  in  ten 
years  he  cleared  the  purchase  price  and  made  this  one  of  the 
richest  provinces  in  Java  ;  while  such  was  the  equity  and 
justness  of  his  rule  in  the  beginning  that  it  became  also 
one  oi  the  most  populous.  Later  on  his  lieutenants  ruled 
more  or  less  for  him,  and  their  conduct  was  altogether 
different. 

The  major  Chinaman  was  living  in  great  splendour  when 
the  English  arrived,  with  a  staff,  pomp,  and  retinue  fit  for 
any  Eastern  emperor,  and  being  waited  upon  by  the  highest 
natives  with  cringing  servility.  This  person  was  almost  as 
sacred  as  that  of  the  Emperor  of  Solo.  With  every  enjoy- 
ment that  riches  could  afford,  and  with  a  sway  over  millions, 
the  clemency,  restraint,  and  fairness  of  this  Chinaman  was 
quite  marvellous.  He  was  unfortunately  cut  oiT  in  the 
prime  of  his  life,  whilst  on  duty  in  his  province.  The  story, 
seeing  that  two  valuable  English  officers  lost  their  lives  at 
the  same  time,  is  a  tragical  one  and  is  worth  repeating.  On 
the  18th  May,  1813,  a  small  party  consisting  of  Lieutenant- 


^^H       im 

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KANDJENG  PANGARAN  HARIO  SOERIO 
WIDJOJO.  (son  of  the  SULTAN 
BY  A  SECONDARY  WIFE.) 


KANDJENG  PANGARAN  HARIO  SOERIO 
BRONTO.  (son  of  THE  SULTAN  BY 
A  SECONDARY  WIFE.) 


GOESTI  PANGA1>A.\  AUIO  POEGER. 
(brother  TO  THE  SULT.\N.  M.\.IOR 
ON  THE  GENERAL  ST.A.FF.) 


GOESTI   PANtiAKAX   ARIO   MANGKOE 
KOESOMO.   (son  OF  THE  SULTAN.) 


THE   TOWNS   IX   JAVA,   ETC.  499 

Colonel  and  Mrs.  Fraser,  Captains  McPherson  and  Cameron, 
and  Lieutenants  Robertson  and  Cameron,  of  the  78th  Regi- 
ment, had  gone  down  to  Probolingo  for  a  change  of  air  and 
scene,  and  whilst  there  received  a  report  that  a  band  of 
brigands  had  come  down  from  the  momitains  and  intended 
robbing  the  town.     Colonel  Fraser  went  to  the  major  China- 
man and  proceeded  with  him  to  the  scene  of  the  trouble 
accompanied  by  all  the  officers  above  named,  thinking  it 
was  merely  a  gang  of  robbers,  who  on  a  little  display  of 
force  would  decamp.     In  this,  however,  he  was  mistaken, 
for  the  ruffians,  seeing  the  Englishmen  coming  on  horse- 
back, hid  themselves  in  ambush,  rushing  out  and  surround- 
ing them  when  they  came  up.     The  English  officers  fought 
desperately,  firing  off  their  pistols,  and  those  that  had  them 
their  fowling-pieces.    Exhausted  with  fatigue.  Colonel  Fraser 
endeavoured  to  step  into  his  carriage,  but  fell  down,  and 
Captain  McPherson,  being  also  in  a  weak  state  of  health, 
was  easily  overtaken  and  seized  and  bound  by  the  robbers. 
The  major  Chinaman  was  also  seized,  and  all  of  them  were 
basely  murdered.     The  other  officers  succeeded  in  regaining 
the  major  Chinaman's  quarters,  and  roused  the  inmates  to 
defend  the  house  (which  had  a  large  wall  round  it)  and  make 
a  stand,  but  during  the  night  the  place  was  gradually 
deserted. 

Mrs.  Fraser  was  in  an  agonised  state  of  mind,  and,  getting 
into  a  boat  lying  on  the  sea-shore  with  the  remaining 
officers,  stood  out  to  sea  as  soon  as  it  was  daylight.  They 
had  hardly  left  the  shore  when  the  insurgents  appeared  in 
sight,  rending  the  air  with  their  shouts.  The  disconsolate 
Mrs.  Fraser  lay  exposed  to  the  burning  sun  in  the  open  boat 
until  they  reached  Pasoeroean. 

As  soon  as  the  news  of  this  catastrophe  reached  Sourabaya 
Major  Forbes,  with  a  party  of  the  78th  Regiment,  setoff  for 
Probolingo,  with  his  men  mounted  on  any  horses  he  could 
borrow  in  the  town,  and  was  joined  whilst  passing  Pasoeroean 

kk2 


500  JAVA 

by  Captain  Cameron  and  the  other  officers.  On  the  21st 
June  they  fell  in  with  the  insurgents,  who  were  marching 
to  Pasoeroean  to  destroy  it,  the  small  band  having  now  been 
swollen  to  thousands  and  being  equipped  with  guns.  They 
flew  a  yellow  flag,  which  was  the  standard  of  the  Emperor 
of  Solo. 

Major  Forbes  forced  their  advanced  position,  and  then 
drew  up  his  men  so  as  to  bring  a  cross-fire  into  the  main  body 
of  the  rebels  ;  while  in  the  rear  he  placed  a  body  of  Diyang 
Secars  (provincial  horsemen),  who  were  armed  with  swords 
and  pistols,  and  a  small  party  of  irregulars  (volunteers)  from 
Pasoeroean.  He  now  awaited  an  attack,  and  when  the 
enemy  was  a  few  yards  distant  gave  the  orders  to  fire.  The 
fire  being  well  directed,  numbers  fell,  which  threw  the  enemy 
into  confusion  ;  but  the  chief,  furiously  irritated  and  at  the 
head  of  a  desperate  party,  rushed  on  through  the  lines  to 
the  rear,  where,  wounded  in  four  places,  he  was  secured, 
but  very  shortly  afterwards  breathed  his  last.  Of  the 
robbers  one  hundred  and  fifty  were  killed,  the  rest  being 
dispersed  and  the  guns  taken.  It  was  a  very  meritorious 
Httle  affair,  and  great  credit  was  due  to  Major  Forbes  for 
his  management  of  it. 

The  bodies  of  Colonel  Fraser  and  Captain  McPherson  were 
found  tied  up  in  sacks,  that  of  the  latter  much  mangled  and 
pierced  through  and  through  with  a  number  of  wounds. 
Their  remains  were  buried  with  all  honours  in  the  Probolingo 
cemetery,  where  the  monuments  erected  to  their  memory 
are  still  to  be  seen  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  being  kept 
up  by  the  thoughtful  Dutch  Government. 

Besides  the  chief  who  fell  several  others  were  discovered, 
and  steps  were  taken  by  the  British  authorities  to  find  out 
the  cause  of  this  rebellion.  Probolingo,  it  was  now  found, 
had  been  sacked  by  the  insurgents. 

The  chief  who  was  killed  had  proclaimed  himself  a  repre- 
sentative of  Mahomet,  who  was  ordained  to  make  conquests 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  501 

in  his  name  (it  is  always  the  same  old  story)  ;  the  band  was 
therefore  merely  one  of  rehgious  fanatics. 

The  Chinese  lieutenants  here  had,  in  consequence  of  their 
exactions  as  their  chief  grew  older,  always  been  hated  by 
the  Javans,  and  a  new  settlement  of  the  land  revenue  was 
therefore  applied  to  suit  this  particular  case.  The  family 
of  the  deceased  received  compensation,  while  the  Javans 
were  relieved  of  their  accumulations  of  debt  to  the  Chinese, 
which  it  had  always  been  the  custon  to  hold  over  them  as 
an  incentive  to  work  harder  for  the  benefit  of  the  "  major." 

Naturally  this  system  led  to  a  perpetual  oppression  and 
abuse  of  the  Javans  by  the  Chinese  underlings,  who  had  not 
the  same  hberal  and  humane  qualities  as  the  "  major." 
The  principle  of  his  administration  was  a  fairly  good  one, 
but  the  methods  employed  in  carrying  it  out  were  un- 
doubtedly abominable.  This  the  English  put  an  end  to, 
and  the  Javans  from  being  veritable  slaves  were  once  more 
free  men. 

The  newly  regulated  province,  which  included  Pasoeroean, 
Probolingo,  Panoeroekau,  Bezoekie,  and  Banjoewangie,  gave 
a  revenue  in  1814  of  1,246,000  rupees.  The  major  Chinaman 
out  of  his  district  alone  probably  made  nearly  ten  times  this 
amount.  To-day  Pasoeroean  and  Probolingo  are  the  centre 
of  about  twenty-five  sugar  fabricks,  and  the  exports  are 
considerable  from  both  places. 

With  the  town  of  Probolingo  has  been  closely  bound  up 
the  Etty  family,  whose  progenitor  was  a  Captain  Charles 
Etty,  an  Englishman,  who  was  cruising  about  in  the  English 
time  in  a  small  sailing  ship  of  his  own  trading  from  one 
island  to  the  other.  In  1818  he  settled  on  shore  at  Soura- 
baya,  but  shortly  after  found  his  way  to  Probolingo,  and 
began  grooving  sugar  and  manufacturing  it  in  the  native  way 
with  buffalos  moving  the  crusher.  From  this  small  beginning 
great  things  came,  which  wiH  be  related  when  certain 
further  material  is  published.  About  1750  or  a  little  later  an 


502  JAVA 

English    traveller   passed    through   Pasoeroean,    and    the 
follomng  is  his  account : — 

"  The  escort  reached  Passarouang  at  noon  and  was  well 
received  by  the  Dutch  commandant  Hesselaar,  a  captain  of  foot. 
He  was  many  years  a  lieutenant  in  the  European  cavahy  which 
acts  as  guard  of  honour  to  the  Emperor  of  Solo,  and  the  appoint- 
ment of  Passarouang  was  given  to  him  to  retire  to.  He  has 
with  him  two  officers,  some  subalterns  and  European  soldiers, 
and  some  companies  of  Malays  to  guard  a  small  fort  of  masonry, 
rather  intended  against  the  natives  in  case  of  revolt  than  against 
an  external  foe.  He  also  has  the  management  of  several  con- 
siderable plantations  of  coffee  and  pepper  belonging  to  the 
Company,  and  which  are  in  the  environs  ;  likewise  the  direction 
of  a  yard  for  building  the  coasting  vessels  necessary  for  the 
transport  of  those  productions.  The  hill  and  a  mountain  two 
leagues  inland  are  cultivated  almost  to  the  summit  with  all 
kinds  of  European  garden  stuff,  which  never  degenerate,  whether 
from  the  situation  or  from  the  soil  in  which  they  grow,  and 
which  supply  a  great  part  of  the  civil  and  military  administra- 
tions of  iSourabaya,  whose  environs  produce  httle  produce  in 
this  way. 

"  This  appointment  is  very  lucrative  to  Mr.  Hesselaar,  being 
estimated  to  bring  in  15,000  rix  dollars  a  year.  His  household 
consists  of  thirty  Malay  slaves  from  Baly  and  Macassar,  ten  of 
whom  are  musicians.  A  Chinese  belonging  to  the  chief  has 
taught  them  music,  having  learnt  it  himself  from  a  German  in 
the  Company's  service  who  lived  many  years  at  Passarouang. 
He  has  also  four  elegantly  gilt  carriages,  and  a  one-horse  chaise, 
with  twenty-five  horses  richly  caparisoned.  His  wife  is  a  native, 
by  whom  he  has  several  children. 

"  He  always  keeps  a  most  splendid  table.  He  introduced  us 
to  the  prince,  with  whom  we  took  tea,  smoked  and  ate  some 
preserved  fruits.  The  prince  afterwards  showed  us  in  one  of 
his  yards  two  immense  tigers,  in  an  enclosure  of  thick  paUsades. 
Three  had  been  taken  in  traps  by  several  of  his  subjects.  They 
are  very  common  in  Passourouang.  We  also  visited  the  Chinese 
company,  and  their  chief  set  before  us  pipes  and  tea. 

"  Passourouang  is  crossed  by  a  river  which  is  navigable  many 
leagues.  A  fine  wooden  bridge  communicates  from  one  side 
to  the  other.     The  commandant's  house  backs  the  fort  on  the 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  503 

right  bank  facing  the  bridge.     This  is   a  very    extensive    and 
commodious  residence  with  many  offices. 

"  Monsieur  Gauffe,  the  surgeon-major,  was  there,  but  had 
gone  to  Bangell  ^  to  propagate  a  vaccination  among  the  natives. 
The  Prince  of  Bangell  is  70  years  old,  and  he  abstains  from  wine. 
The  old  prince  is  the  elder  brother  of  the  Prince  of  Besouki,  and 
consequently  originally  from  China.  He  speaks  all  the  Oriental 
languages,  and  has  some  knowledge  of  geography.  His  eldest 
son,  a  fine  man,  is  almost  white,  and  speaks  Dutch  fluently,  and 
is  well  acquainted  with  civil  architecture." 

Inscriptions   on   English  Tojebstones   in  the  Probolingo 

Cemetery. 

Sacred 
to  the  memory  of 

Lieutenant-Colonel  James  Fraser  and  Captain 

James  McPherson,  of  his  Majesty's  78th 

Highland  Regiment,  who  were  barbarously 

murdered  by  a  band  of  insurgents  near 

Probolingo  on  the  night  of  the  18th  of 

May,  1813.     This  monument  is  erected  over 

their  remains  by  their  brother  officers  as 

a  mark  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  they 

held  their  worth  and  virtues. 

M.  S. 

David  HopkinsI,  Medici  Qui  Aberstnithae  in 

comitatu  Cardegariensi  natus  1770 

Obiit  Probolingo  Decembris  29  1813  vir  doctus 

sincerus  acri  judicio  praeditus  ob  praeclara 

officia  ia  his  Insulis 

OrientaUbus  praestita 

A  praefectis  merito  landatus  cum  sui  commodi 

omnino  immemor  nimio  Lahore  vires  comellarat 

Animam  ad  altiora  aspirantem  placide 

Efflavit 

anno  aetat  44 

Hoc  marmor  in  consobrini  gratam 

Memoriam 

Et  in  Mocroris  Testimonium  ponere 

curavit 

T.  Williams. 

^  Bangil. 


504  JAVA 

The  following  names  appear  on  the  four  sides  of  the  tomb  of 
the  EngUsh  family  Grant : — 

Grant. 

A.  E.  Grant. 

T.  Etty. 

T.  Grant. 

E.  Etty. 
M.  B.  Etty. 

A.  Etty. 
G.  Hardey. 
E.  Hardey. 

Underneath  rest  the  remains  of 

Richard  Symons, 

born  at  St.  Austell's 

in  the  county  of  Cornwall,  England 

on  the  twelfth  of  June  1797  ; 

died  at  Probolingo 

on  the  twenty-fifth  of  April  1859. 

This  stone  is  erected  by  his  sister 

Eliza  Symons 

in  affectionate  remembrance. 

"  After  life's  fitful  fever,  he  sleeps  well.'* 

Here  rests 
the  remains  of 

Charles  Etty,  Esquire, 

born  at  York,  England, 

on  the  1st  of  May  1793  ; 

died  at  Probolingo 

on  the  4th  of  December  1856  : 

A  kind  husband 

affectionate  father 

and  a 

faithful  friend. 

May  he  rest  in  peace. 

This  tablet 

is  erected  to  his  memory 

by  his  family. 

To  the  memory  of 

Anna  Maria  Etty 

wife  of  Charles  Etty  Junior. 

Bom  at  Dassoon  15th  November  1824  ; 

died  at  Wonolangan  4th  May  1867. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  505 

Also  Elizabeth  Etty 

relict  of  Charles  Etty  Senior 

and  mother  of  the  above. 

Bom  in  Calcutta  31st  December  1782  ; 

died  at  Wonolangan  8th  September  1868. 

Also  Matthew  Walter  Etty 

Son  of  the  above  Elizabeth  Etty. 

Bom  in  Calcutta  31st  August  1815  ; 

died  on  board  the  steamer  Rangoon 

in  the  Red  Sea  11th  July  1870 

and  was  buried  at  sea.     In  the  midst 

of  life  we  are  in  death. 

Banjoewangie. 

The  Old  East  India  Company  had  a  station  here  early  in 
the  seventeenth  century,  and  about  1750  when  an  English- 
man (the  visitor  to  Pasoeroean  just  mentioned)  visited  the 
place  he  found  a  fort  called  "  Utrecht  "  with  a  little  garrison 
here.    His  account  is  interesting  : — 

"  At  the  fort  at  Bagnouwangie  an  invahd  introduced  himself  ; 
he  was  a  Frenchman  from  Amiens  originally,  was  65  years  of 
age,  and  had  been  thirty  years  in  the  Company's  service.  We 
now  examined  the  fort.  The  sergeant  commandant  is  85  years 
old,  though  he  did  not  seem  60,  and  the  youngest  of  the  detach- 
ment is  55.  The  fort  is  unimportant  ;  it  is  square  built  with 
palisades  and  planks  which  are  falling  down  from  age,  mounts 
four  two  pounders,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  wide  ditch  full  of 
water.  It  has  two  entrances  with  a  good  drawbridge  ;  the 
principal  entrance  fronts  the  coast.  It  stands  on  a  marshy  plain 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  coast.  The  Dutch  flag  is  planted 
opposite  the  fort.  Within  is  a  small  barrack  house,  the  rooms 
of  which  are  tolerably  comfortable.  The  sergeant's  apartments 
are  at  the  entrance  and  isolated  ;  they  consist  of  three  compart- 
ments and  a  kitchen  on  the  side  of  the  guardhouse.  These  old 
soldiers,  although  their  pay  is  but  moderate,  live  tolerably  well, 
and  make  no  complaints,  as  provisions  are  cheap,  and  their  food 
consists  of  fish,  poultry  and  rice,  with  which  the  vicinity  abounds. ". 

During  the  English  period  we  learn  that  Banjoewangie 
had  a  numerous  population  of  natives,  and  a  few  Dutch 


506  JAVA 

half-caste  families.  Balambouang  Bay,  further  south,  was 
visited  by  David  Middleton  early  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

Formerly  there  was  an  estabHshment  here  of  the  East 
India  Company  for  the  convenience  of  ships  calling  there,  but 
it  had  to  be  abandoned  on  account  of  its  unhealthiness,  six 
European  commandants  dying  here  one  after  the  other  from 
dropsy,  owing  to  bad  water. 

Bound  up  with  the  early  history  of  Banjoewangie  are  the 
Trouerbach  and  VoU  families,  and  a  reference  to  the  list  of 
Dutch  residents  of  Banjoewangie  in  1818  will  show  they 
were  still  fairly  numerous  then. 

This  place  is  the  station  of  the  Eastern  Extension  Tele- 
graph Company,  which  used  to  be  worked  in  its  first  days 
by  Mr.  Pownall.  On  his  retirement  from  this  company  he 
opened  his  own  business  house  here. 

The  British  Eesident  in  1812  and  1813  was  Lieutenant 
Davies,  and  from  1814  to  1816  Lieutenant  A.  McLeod. 

SUMENAP. 

From  Banjowangie  to  Sumenap  is  about  a  hundred-mile 
sea  journey.  In  the  English  time  it  is  described  as  a  large 
and  populous  town  and  the  residence  of  a  prince.  There 
were  very  few  European  and  Dutch  settlers  here  in  those 
days.  The  bay  was  very  much  frequented  by  the  merchant 
vessels  trading  to  the  Eastern  Archipelago  and  China.  In 
1811  the  old  Dutch  fort  was  greatly  out  of  repair.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  British  Resident's  house  and  a  few  others 
have  been  described  as  "  fine  buildings."  The  British 
Resident  in  1814,  1815,  and  1816  was  Captain  J.  Clarke. 

When  the  English  arrived  at  Sumenap  they  found  the 
old  panembahan  worn  out  with  age,  and  they  made  him 
hand  over  the  reins  of  his  government  to  his  son  Nata 
Koesoema,  a  young  man  with  as  mild  a  character  as  his 
father's  was  harsh.     The  heinous  character  and  ferocious 


THE   TOWNS    m  JAVA,   ETC.  507 

temper  of  this  old  scoundrel  was  well  known,  and  could  be 
read  by  a  glance  at  his  countenance. 

The  magnificent  graves  are  still  to  be  seen  here  of  the 
panembahans  of  Sumenap,  also  of  this  Nata  Koesoema,  who 
assisted  the  English  later  on  so  materially  at  the  battle  of 
Djockjacarta  in  1812.  This  is  the  man  that  Baffles  described 
**  as  not  only  distinguished  among  the  Javans  for  his  eminent 
erudition  and  information,  but  who  from  the  superior 
endoTvments  of  his  mind  could  command  a  high  degree  of 
respect  among  the  more  civilised  people  of  Europe." 

Bangkalan. 

Proceeding  from  Sumenap  and  taking  a  direct  course 
straight  across  the  island  of  Madura  through  Pamekasan, 
we  came  to  Bangkalan.  These  towns  of  Madura  used  in 
olden  days  to  be  much  frequented  by  Arabs.  The  town  at 
quite  an  early  date,  therefore,  was  fairly  well  populated. 
There  is  an  old  Dutch  fort  here  ;  the  country  is  very  pretty, 
and  the  road  which  runs  along  the  beach  west  of  the  town 
and  opposite  the  famous  fort  LudoT\yk  (built  by  Daendels 
"with  forced  labour  at  a  cost,  it  is  said,  of  fifteen  thousand 
lives)  is  a  good  one. 

The  inhabitants  of  Madura  are  an  untrustworthy,  revenge- 
ful race.  In  the  time  of  the  English  the  Resident  at 
Sourabaya  had  Bangkalan  under  his  jurisdiction.  In  these 
days  he  used  to  cross  the  straits  in  the  sultan's  barge  in  two 
hours. 

Banjermassin  (Borneo). 

Banjermassin,  in  Borneo,  was  a  place  that  the  English 
East  India  Company  traded  with  as  early  as  1614.  The 
trade,  however,  was  fitful,  and  it  was  not  until  1703  that 
they  built  a  factory  here,  appointing  Mr.  Allen  Catchpole  as 
the  agent.     In  1706  a  fort  was  built  to  protect  it.     Banjer- 


508  JAVA 

massin  was  at  this  time  subject  to  the  King  of  Cochin  China, 
and  it  is  probable  he  objected  to  the  English  being  here^ ; 
in  any  case  the  Chinese  rose  in  1707,  and  Catchpole  barely- 
escaped  with  his  life.  This  put  an  end  temporarily  to  the 
English  Company's  trade  here.  It  was,  however,  started 
again  in  1737,  and  English  ships  called  in  here  now  and  then 
for  a  cargo  of  pepper.  From  1733  to  1809  the  Dutch  had  a 
factory  and  a  fort  here  called  "  Fort  Tatar,"  but  after  a 
great  deal  of  trouble  with  the  sultan  and  Chinese,  who 
found  their  ancient  trade  being  interfered  with  and  conse- 
quently caused  the  Dutch  all  the  annoyance  they  could,  the 
factory  was  sold  to  the  sultan  for  50,000  rupees.^  The 
Chinese  had  been  doing  business  at  Banjermassin  certainly 
as  early  as  1368,  if  not  in  618  during  the  Tang  dynasty,  for 
their  history  of  the  latter  date  speaks  of  the  coast  of  Borneo. 
It  is  not,  however,  until  the  former  date,  which  was  during 
the  Ming  dynasty,  that  the  town  of  Banjermassin  is  actually 
mentioned.  A  long  account  given  by  the  Chinese  chronicle 
in  1368  of  this  place  is  as  follows  : — 

"  At  Banjermassin  they  have  a  city  with  walls  of  wood,  one 
side  of  which  lies  against  the  mountain.  The  chief  of  this 
country  keeps  several  hundreds  of  finely  dressed  girls,  and  when 
he  goes  out  he  rides  on  an  elephant  and  is  followed  by  these 
girls  carrying  his  clothes,  shoes,  knives,  sword,  and  betel  tray  ; 
if  he  goes  in  a  boat,  he  sits  cross-legged  on  a  couch,  and  these 
girls  sit  on  both  sides  with  their  faces  turned  towards  him,  or 
are  employed  in  poHng  the  boat  :   his  state  is  always  very  greats 

"  Many  of  the  people  make  rafts  of  trees  bound  together, 
and  build  houses  on  the  water  in  which  they  Hve,  just  as  is  done 
at  Palembang.  Men  and  women  use  a  piece  of  cloth  with  many 
colours  for  wrapping  round  their  head  ;  their  back  and  breast 
are  generally  bare,  but  sometimes  they  have  a  jacket  with  short 
sleeves,  which  they  put  on  over  their  heads.  The  lower  part  of 
their  body  is  surrounded  with  a  piece  of  cloth.  Formerly  they 
used  plantain  leaves  as  plates,  but  since  they  trade  with  the 

J  See  chronological  tables. 

2  It  is  said  the  Chinese  gave  the  sultan  the  money  to  pay  this. 


THE   TOWNS    IN  JAVA,    ETC.  509 

Chinese  they  have  gradually  begun  to  use  earthenware.  They 
also  like  very  much  earthen  jars  with  dragons  outside  ;  when  they 
die  they  are  put  into  such  a  jar,  and  buried  in  this  way. 

"  Far  in  the  interior  there  is  a  village  called  Wu-lung-li-tan, 
where  the  people  all  have  tails  ;  when  they  see  other  men,  they 
cover  their  face  with  their  hands  and  run  away  :  their  country 
is  rich  in  gold  dust,  and  when  merchants  carry  goods  there  to 
trade  with  them,  they  give  a  sign  by  beating  a  small  copper 
gong,i  lay  their  goods  down  upon  the  ground,  and  step  back 
about  ten  feet.  These  people  then  come  forward,  and  when  they 
see  something  which  suits  their  fancy  they  put  some  gold  at  the 
side  of  it  :  if  the  owner  tells  them  from  his  distance  that  he  is 
prepared  to  sell  it  at  that  price  they  take  up  the  article  and  go 
away,  if  not,  they  collect  their  gold  again,  and  go  home,  without 
talking  any  further  with  each  other. 

"  The  products  of  the  country  are  rhinoceros  horn,  peacocks, 
parrots,  gold  dust,  crane  nests,  wax,  rattan  mats,  chillies,  dragon's 
blood,  nutmegs,  deer  hides  and  so  on.  In  the  neighbourhood 
are  the  Beadjoos,^  who  are  of  a  ferocious  disposition,  and  go  out 
in  the  middle  of  the  night  to  cut  o£E  people's  heads,  which  they 
carry  away  and  adorn  with  gold  ;  therefore  the  traders  fear 
them  very  much,  and  at  night  carefully  mount  guard  to  await 
them.  The  last  King  of  Banjermassin  was  a  good  man  who 
treated  the  merchants  very  favourably  ;  he  had  thirty-one  sons, 
and  fearing  that  they  might  molest  the  merchant  vessels  he  did 
not  allow  them  to  go  out.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  a  Beadjoo 
chieftain,  and  a  son  of  hers  succeeded  his  father.  This  man 
listened  to  the  words  of  his  mother's  relatives,  began  to  oppress 
the  trade,  and  owed  much  money  to  the  traders,  which  he  did 
never  pay  ;  after  this  the  number  of  those  who  visited  the 
country  gradually  diminished.  The  women  of  this  country 
come  in  small  sampans  to  the  ships  in  order  to  sell  articles  of 
food,  but  the  trade  is  carried  on  by  the  men." 

When  the  English  took  Java  in  1811  Eaffles  sent  Alexander 
Hare,  a  man  known  for  his  great  eccentricities,  to  Banjer- 
massin as  Resident.  The  country  was  then  noted  for  its 
gold,  which  is  still  to  be  found  there  in  great  quantities  if 

1  This  is  perhaps  the  origin  of  a  gong  being  beaten  at  auctions  in  Java. 

2  Dyaks. 


510  JAVA 

only  capital  could  be  found  for  working  the  concessions. 
Pearls  were  also  discovered,  while  diamonds,  it  seems,  in 
those  days  abounded.  The  country  round  this  part  of 
Borneo  is  still  rich  beyond  the  dreams  of  avarice,  though 
practically  nothing  is  being  done  to  develop  it. 

SOERAKARTA  (of  SoLO). 

If  reference  is  made  to  Chapter  I.  it  will  be  seen  that 
whilst  the  present  Emperor  of  Java  or  Solo  is  the  scion  of 
the  old  and  ancient  family  of  Matarem,  whose  genealogical 
table,  although  broken  here  and  there,  can  be  more  or  less 
traced  for  two  thousand  years,  it  is  a  question  how  far  the 
present  Emperor  is  not  a  parvenu,  the  princely  rank  of  the 
family  being  of  a  far  more  recent  date.  However  old  he 
may  be  in  his  ancestry,  the  court  at  Soerakarta  only  counts 
back  to  1743,  which  is  the  date  when  the  susuhunan  was 
obliged  to  find  a  new  spot  for  his  kraton,  owing  to  the 
Chinese  destroying  and  sacking  that  at  Kartasoera,  parti- 
culars of  which  event  were  given  in  a  former  chapter. 

The  present  kraton  is  spacious  and  contains  a  number  of 
buildings  within  its  walls,  packed,  so  to  say,  full  with  the 
fifteen  thousand  souls  that  are  living  there,  of  which  number 
two-thirds  are  women.  The  kraton  has  quite  a  feudal 
aspect  with  its  moat,  thick  high  walls,  battlements,  and  old 
cannon  ;  two  of  the  latter  have  the  following  inscription  on 
them :  "  Conraet  Antoniz  me  fecit  Hacoe  1599."  Above 
the  trunnions  are  two  eagles  and  a  castle,  and  below  these 
figures  the  words  "  Middleburg "  and  "  Jacob  Beurel, 
Burgomeister." 

Despite  all  this  outward  show^  however,  the  inward 
appearance  of  the  Solo  court  gives  one  the  idea  of  a  gaudy, 
noisy,  and  rather  cheap  vulgarity,  which  the  jewelled  gar- 
ments, golden  ornaments,  and  richly  gilded  furniture 
increase  rather  than  lessen.     The  court  is,  to  modern  ideas. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  511 

a  sordid  one,  with  a  monarch  unfortunately  trained  in 
Europe  instead  of  in  his  own  country.  He  entertains, 
however,  Hberally  and  royally,  giving  parties  at  his  kraton, 
to  which  several  hundreds  of  Europeans  usually  come.  On 
these  occasions  he  introduces  the  srivipis,  or  com't  ballet-girls, 
who  go  through  a  series  of  extravagant  figures  which  are 
highly  interesting.  When  the  Emperor  drives  out  on  an 
official  visit  to  the  Kesident,  who  by  a  wise  provision  of  the 
Dutch  Government  is  his  "  eldest  brother,"  he  sits  in  a 
gold-painted  coach,  highly  decorated  ^vith  a  European 
coachman  in  a  gaudy  suit  of  livery.  He  is  attended  on 
these  occasions  by  a  large  body  of  native  horsemen,  likewise 
by  his  Dutch  lifeguards,  who  watch  him  night  and  day. 

The  magnificent  crowTi  jewels  and  various  heirlooms 
handed  down  from  the  ancient  court  of  Majapalut  are  also 
sometimes  taken. 

The  Emperor  of  Solo  is  allowed  to  have  a  small  military 
force  of  his  own  numbering  some  six  hundred  men,  subject 
more  or  less  to  a  discipHne  and  equipment  like  that  of  the 
Dutch  army  and  with  Dutch  as  well  as  native  officers 
attached. 

The  fort  was  begun  in  1746,  and  completed  in  1765,  by 
Frans  Haack,  and  received  the  name  of  "  De  Groot  moedig- 
heid."  It  had  a  British  garrison  in  it  in  1811,  and  is  quite 
near  the  Kesident's  house  and  the  kraton. 

The  country  around  is  rich  and  healthy,  being  in  fact  one 
huge  plain  unrivalled  even  in  Java. 

During  the  whole  of  the  British  occupation  of  Java 
Major  J.  M.  Johnson  was  the  British  Eesident  here. 

Djoejakerta. 

Jogyakerta,  to  give  the  early  spelling  of  its  name,  is  the 
seat  of  the  most  ancient  empire  in  Java,  namely,  that  of 
Mataram  or  Matarem  :  for  when  it  was  founded  the  reader 


512  JAVA 

is  referred  to  Chapter  I.  Here  one  can  see  the  real  aris- 
tocracy of  Java,  and  the  difference  to  the  educated  observer 
between  the  real  Javans  and  the  Malays  is  evident. 

The  present  kraton  is  a  fine  building  built  within  massive 
and  high  walls  ;  the  inside  seems  a  honeycomb  of  passages 
running  intricately  between  walls  of  great  thickness. 
Citadel  after  citadel  is  passed  before  the  actual  holy  of 
hoHes  is  reached.  The  name  of  Djoejakerta  will  ever 
remain  in  the  minds  of  Englishmen  associated  with  that 
brave  little  band  who,  when  the  diplomacy  of  Raffles  and 
his  Resident  John  Crawfurd  had  failed,  attacked  the  kraton 
with  the  utmost  heroism  and  took  it  despite  its  strong  line 
of  fortifications  bristling  with  cannon,  seizing  the  sultan  and 
crown  prince,  and  overcoming  the  eight  thousand  men  in 
the  kraton  itself  and  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  in  the 
suburbs  outside. 

It  was  here  that  Lieutenant  McLean,  of  His  Majesty's 
14th  Rifle  Company,  whilst  bravely  leading  his  men  in  the 
assault  was  so  severely  wounded,  subsequently  dying  amidst 
the  shouts  of  the  victorious  British  troops  returning  to 
camp  at  the  end  of  the  day. 

His  tombstone  lies  in  the  kraton  cemetery  to-day,  and  has 
been  well  cared  for  by  the  Dutch  authorities.  The  inscrip- 
tion is  as  follows  : — 

In  memory 

of  Lieutenant  Hector  Maclean  of  His  M.'s  14th 

Regt.  of  foot,  this  column  has  been  erected. 

It  is  a  votive  emblem  of  esteem  to  military 

ardour  and  early  worth  by  officers  who  served 

with  him.     He  commanded  the  Rifle  Company  of 

his  corps  in  the  successful  assault  of  the 

Cratton  on  the  20th  June  1812  :   toward  the  close 

of  that  conflict  he  received  a  wound  which 

proved  mortal.     In  his  twentieth  year  thus 

fell  a  youth.     His  memory  survives  in  that 

of  his  brother  officers. 

This  kraton,  like  that  at  Solo,  harbours  fifteen  thousand 


THE   TOAVNS    IX   JAVA,   ETC.  513 

souls,  and  the  show  and  gaudy  paraphernaha  from  a  great 
past  is  allowed  to  the  Sultan  by  the  Dutch.  The  Sultan  of 
Djoekjakerta  looks  dow^n  on  his  neighbour  at  Solo  with 
considerable  contempt,  counting  him  as  a  parvenu  of 
doubtful  extraction.^  The  result  is  that  there  is  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  petty  jealousy  and  animosity  between 
the  two  sovereigns. 

The  Dutch,  from  a  political  point  of  view,  do,  of  course, 
nothing  to  alleviate  the  tension  between  the  two  monarchs. 
It  must,  however,  be  admitted  that  the  general  impression 
one  gets  in  the  kraton  at  Djoekjakerta  is  quite  different  to 
that  which  one  has  in  the  susuhunan's  palace  at  Soera 
Kerta. 

There  does  not  seem  to  be  at  the  former  the  gaudy, 
noisy,  and  vulgar  show  of  a  rich  parvenu,  but  there  is  every- 
triing  suggestive  of  an  ancient  court  with  a  highly  educated 
and  aristocratic  monarch,  whose  breeding  and  bearing  is  of 
a  higher  kind,  and  whose  personality  is  that  of  the  man  of 
culture  ;  and  this  has  undoubtedly  a  far-reaching  effect  on 
his  whole  court. 

The  etiquette,  moreover,  at  the  kraton  at  Djoekjakerta  is 
stricter  than  at  Soera  Kerta,  and  it  is  clear  to  all  that  it  is 
not  a  thing  of  mushroom  growth.  The  features  of  all  the 
vengarans  or  princes  at  Djoekja  are  clear,  well  cut,  and 
aristocratic-looking,  and  their  gait  and  carriage,  as  also 
those  of  their  ratus  or  Tvives,  is  graceful  and  courtly  ;  these 
are  all  marks  of  their  common  ancient  ancestry  and  their 
high-bred  aristocratic  stock.  At  Soera  Kerta,  although  the 
etiquette  is  rigid,  there  is  a  laxness  in  its  use,  while  the  class 
of  pengarans  seems  not  to  be  so  well  bred,  nor  do  their 
appearance  and  gait  seem  to  betoken  such  high  birth.  The 
reason  for  all  this,  perhaps,  is  not  far  to  seek  ;  it  lies  to  a 
certain  degree  in  the  personalities  of  the  sovereigns.     The 

1  The  compliment  is,  however,  fully  reciprocated  by  the  Susuhunan  of 
Solo. 

J. — VOL.  I.  L  L 


514  JAVA 

one  at  Djoekjakerta  loathes  and  detests  everything  Western, 
while  his  colleague  or  superior  at  Soera  Kerta  is  just  the 
opposite,  and  has  his  palace  filled  with  Western  as  well  as 
Eastern  articles  of  furniture  and  so  forth,  and  introduces 
European  ways  which  clash  with  the  Javan.  Furthermore, 
the  Sultan  of  Djoekjakerta  has  never  been  out  of  the  country 
and  is  a  pure  Javan,  while  the  susuhunan  was  taken  awaj^ 
young  from  his  unmanageable  and  brutal  father  and  sent 
to  Europe  by  the  Dutch  Government,  which  has  somewhat 
spoilt  him.  In  addition  to  this  it  is  said  he  is  not  a  pure 
Javan  but  has  Chinese  blood  in  him,  which  there  seems  little 
doubt  is  the  case,  even  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  his 
features  show  a  strong  Mongolian  cast. 

Of  the  fifteen  thousand  mentioned  as  living  in  the  kraton 
fully  ten  thousand  are  women.  Their  days  are  spent  for 
the  greater  part  in  idleness  and  pleasure.  They  are  the 
hereditary  retainers  and  hangers-on  of  the  court.  Some 
attend  to  the  kitchen  department,  others  attend  to  the 
royal  apartments,  others  to  the  training  of  the  dancing 
girls,  who  are  all  princesses  ;  others  are  players  on  the  lute, 
others  again  act  as  pipe,  betel-box,  foot-stool,  fan  or  heir- 
loom bearers,  and  so  on.  Each  has  her  hereditary  duties 
to  perform,  however  trifling  these  may  appear  to  be.  It  is 
all  part  of  the  patriarchal  system  of  an  ancient  monarchy. 
As  it  now  is  at  the  court  of  Djoekjakerta,  so  it  was  in  the 
days  of  "  Majapahit,"  and  so  it  was  probably  at  the  court 
of  Matarem  (Mendang  Kamulan)  before  Majapahit  was  ever 
thought  of. 

The  etiquette  of  this  system  is  very  respectful.  It  is  an 
etiquette  of  absolute  politeness  for  one's  seniors  or  superiors 
in  rank.^  There  is,  however,  in  it  a  good  deal  suggestive  of 
heartlessness,  and  a  sHght  tinge  of  barbarity,  in  the  cringing 
servility  which  is  shown  to  a  monarch  whose  ancestors,  and 

^  See  Miscellaneous  Chapter  ("Ceremonies  of  the  Court"). 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  516 

that  not  so  far  back,  were  absolute  despots — one  might  even 
go  further  and  say  despotic  and  ferocious  monsters — who 
visited  a  sHght  dereUction  of  duty  or  a  trivial  neglect  in  the 
observance  of  some  custom  with  the  direst  and  cruellest  of 
punishments. 

The  sultan  keeps  up  a  great  state,  and  when  he  goes  out 
is  accompanied  by  cavalry  both  native  and  Dutch.  The 
fayung  or  umbrella  is  a  token  of  superiority,  and  is  always 
carried.  These  are  of  different  colours — yellow,  green,  blue, 
white,  red,  pink,  black,  purple,  etc.  Some  have  a  little 
gold,  increasing  in  amount  according  to  the  importance  or 
rank  of  the  person.  The  payung  shows  immediately  the 
status  of  a  person.  The  sultan's  head  is  protected  with  a 
jpayung  that  is  all  gold,  the  queen's  with  a  yellow  one,  and 
the  crown  prince's  with  a  payung  ornamented  with  a  thick 
gold  border  ^ ;  the  sultan's  children  have  their  heads  pro- 
tected with  a  white  payung,  and  so  on.  There  is  thus  a 
complete  system  of  heraldry.^ 

The  mendopo  or  throne-room  in  the  kraton  is  decorated 
entirely  with  gilt ;  attached  hereto  is  the  dining-hall. 
capable  of  accommodating  one  thousand  guests.  There  is  a 
yellow  house,  the  residence  of  the  sultan  ;  opposite  this 
stand  the  house  of  his  first  lawful  wife,  the  house  of  the 
Eesident  when  he  lives  inside  the  kraton,^  the  dwellings  of 
the  concubines  and  of  the  bodyguard,  and  the  stables  of 
the  elephants  and  horses,  which  buildings  completely  fill 
the  grounds. 

There  is,  it  is  said,  a  block  of  stone  in  the  kraton  which 
was  formerly  the  throne.  It  is  credited  with  the  age  of 
several  hundreds  of  years,  and  there  is  a  story  connected 
with  it  that  it  once  belonged  to  one  of  the  Hindu  kings  of 
India.     Two  very  old  waringen  trees,   always  a  sign  of 

'  A  later  innovation. 

2  See  Miscellaneous  Chapter  ("Titles  and  Rank"). 

^  On  the  death  of  a  sultan. 

L  L  2 


516  JAVA 

majesty,  stand  in  the  big  plain  before  the  kraton,  with  their 
drooping  branches  and  colossal  trunks. 

Part  of  the  regalia^  from  Majapahit  is  here,  including  the 
ancient  gamelan,^  which  is  said  to  be  as  old  as  the  stone 
throne. 

At  the  wedding  of  the  crown  prince  in  1908  the  author 
had  the  opportunity  of  hearing  it,  when  the  hereditary 
players  played  it  for  all  they  were  worth,  at  a  command 
from  the  sultan,  who  was  doing  his  best  to  show  all  honour 
to  the  Dutch  Eesident.  Once  having  heard  such  a  perform- 
ance, and  on  such  a  gamelan,  one  remembers  it  for  a  lifetime. 
The  performance,  to  a  lover  of  music,  was  majestic  and 
perfect,  but  the  beauty  and  symmetry  of  it  all  is  neither  to 
be  imagined  nor  described.  In  Java  one  can,  of  course, 
hear  the  gamelan  played  daily  if  one  will,  but  not  such  a 
gamelan  as  this,  and  never  one  played  as  this  was  on  such 
an  occasion.  It  was  in  fact  a  full  band,  with  the  finest 
hereditary  performers. 

The  old  kraton  used  to  be  at  Parsar  Gede,  some  little 
distance  away.  Little  now  remains  of  tliis  famous  old 
palace  except  the  walls  and  the  kohooran,  or  royal  cemetery, 
which  consists  of  several  courts  surrounded  by  turreted 
walls.  The  gateways  leading  to  each  of  these  courts  still 
bear  some  of  their  old  carvings.  In  the  third  court  is  a  large 
house  where  most  of  the  kraton  princes  have  been  interred. 
From  this  the  passage  leads  to  a  smaller  court,  where  one 
sees  tombs  rising  on  terraces  like  a  series  of  steps.  Descend- 
ing from  these  you  reach  a  square  tank  of  crystal  clear  water 
containing  the  sacred  fisb,^  which  have  a  venomous  sting, 

1  See  Miscellaneous  Chapter  ("  Regalia  "). 

2  Set  of  native  instruments. 

s  One  cannot  help  observing  in  Djoekjakertaand  in  various  customs  and 
habits  of  the  Javans  a  touch  of  old  Babylon.  For  instance,  the  sacred  fish. 
Professor  Pinches,  in  his  work  entitled  "  The  Old  Testament  in  a  new  Light," 
on  page  192  writes  :  "  Pocock  in  his  description  of  the  East  states  that  it 
is  the  universal  opinion  of  the  Jews  that  Orfa,  or  Edessa,  was  the  ancient 
Ur  of  the  Chaldees,"  and  this  is  supported  by  local  tradition,  the  chief  place 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  517 

and  a  sacred  white  turtle,  for  which  the  natives  have  a 
wonderful  veneration.  There  are  about  three  hundred 
royal  personages  interred  here,  and  their  faces  are  all  turned 
towards  Mecca. 

Under  the  shade  of  one  of  the  large  waringen  trees, 
planted  four  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  near  where  the 
old  kraton  stood,  is  a  slab  of  black  stone,  raised  about  a  foot 
from  the  ground  and  about  a  yard  and  a  half  long  by  one 
broad.  It  has  a  faint  inscription  in  European  letters  on 
it.  The  natives  say  that  a  European  sailor  who  was  ship- 
wrecked on  the  south  coast  several  hundred  years  ago  was 
chained  to  tliis  stone  by  order  of  the  then  Sultan  of  Pajang. 

The  reasons  given  for  this  poor  man's  punishments  are 
numerous  ;  but  from  the  curious  inscription  in  several 
languages  it  would  appear  he  was  a  linguist,  and,  therefore, 
possibly  some  missionary  whose  religious  zeal  had  excited 
the  hostihty  and  suspicion  of  the  higher  Javan  authorities. 
From  the  impression  on  the  slab,  the  European,  whoever  he 
was,  must  have  found  a  sedentary  position  the  most  com- 
fortable— or  possibly  this  was  the  only  one  possible,  as  the 
length  of  chain  allowed  him,  according  to  all  appearance, 
must  have  been  very  short.  Some  of  the  stories  related  by 
the  natives  about  this  victim,  although  vague  and  uncertain, 
are  worth  repeating.  One  is  to  the  effect  that  when  the 
sailor  was  brought  before  the  sultan  he  refused  to  humble 
himself  by  bending  his  knees  and  paying  homage  to  him,  an 
act  which  so  incensed  the  tyrannical  monarch  that  he  at  once 
ordered  him  to  leave  his  presence  and  afterwards  condemned 
him  to  be  chained  for  life  to  this  stone.  Another  account 
is  that  three  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  a  vessel  was  wrecked 
off  the  coast  of  Djoekjakerta,  and  that  the  whole  crew  except 
this  one  man,  who  was  picked  up  by  some  fisherman  half- 

of  worship  there  being  called  the  "  Mosque  of  Abraham,"  and  the  pond  in 
which  the  sacred  fish  are  is  called  Bahr  Ibrahim-el-Halil,  the  Lake  of 
Abraham  the  Beloved. 


518  JAVA 

dead,  were  drowned.  The  fisherman  restored  him  to  Hfe, 
and  the  story  soon  reached  Mataram  that  a  white  man  had 
appeared,  and  the  curiosity  of  the  natives  was  aroused.  The 
sultan,  however,  being  of  a  very  suspicious  nature,  with 
despotic  and  cruel  ideas,  and  fearing  the  influence  of  the 
stranger,  had  him  hurried  before  him,  and  no  sooner  had 
he  seen  him  than  he  ordered  him  to  be  chained  to  the  black 
stone  for  life,  giving  out  that  he  was  a  sea  spirit  of  ill  omen, 
who  had  come  to  deceive  them  in  the  form  of  a  white  man. 
The  story  says  he  was  soon  resigned  to  his  fate,  and  that 
after  a  long  time,  through  the  help  of  a  native  woman, 
he  managed  to  escape  and  reach  Bantam,  where  the  sultan 
allowed  him  to  live  peaceably.  Another  record,  however, 
says  he  died  on  the  very  slab  in  question,  which  is  probably 
the  truer  tale  of  the  two,  if,  indeed,  any  credence  can  be 
given  to  the  tale  at  all.  The  Dutch  professor  Dr.  J.  Grone- 
man,  whose  knowledge  of  Djoekjakerta  is  second  to  none, 
seems  to  believe  that  the  European  in  question,  although 
possibly  a  shipwrecked  sailor,  was  never  actually  chained 
to  the  stone,  but  enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  the  Javans  and 
spent  his  leisure  time  sitting  on  it. 

Near  the  kraton  is  the  "  Water  Kasteel,"  or  Taman  Sarie. 
It  was  formerly  a  veritable  garden  of  paradise,  but  now  it 
is  scarcely  worth  a  visit.  The  spacious  grounds,  however, 
containing  the  ruins  of  a  large  palace  with  swimming  baths, 
orchards,  pleasure  grounds,  flower  gardens,  and  fountains, 
give  one  some  idea  of  what  it  was  like  in  1758  when  it  was 
built.  The  whole  stood  formerly  in  the  middle  of  a  lake, 
and  the  only  entrance  to  this  building  was  by  an  under- 
water passage,  of  which  nothing  was  seen  above  water  except 
the  tops  of  some  detached  turrets  with  windows,  by  means 
of  which  light  was  communicated  to  the  vaults  below. 
Here  the  old  Sultan  Hamangku  Buvano  and  his  harem  were 
whiling  away  their  hours  when  Daendels  with  his  army  was 
thundering  outside. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  519 

The  story,  which  is  undoubtedly  true,  is  that  Daendels, 
who  had  come  to  Djoekja  (as  has  been  related  in  another 
chapter)  to  bring  the  sultan  to  reason,  was  kept  waiting  in 
an  outer  court  an  hour  beyond  the  time  appointed  for  the 
interview.  Hearing  the  gamelan  playing,  and  knowing  that 
the  sounds  which  reverberated  through  the  galleries  betokened 
merriment,  and  weary  of  waiting,  he  pushed  through  the 
retainers  to  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  and  appeared  before 
the  sultan  in  the  Water  Castle  without  being  announced  or 
any  further  ceremony.  He  seized  the  sultan  unceremo- 
niously by  the  arm  and  carried  him  back  to  the  Dutch  head- 
quarters, where  the  interview  took  place.  The  earthquake 
of  1867  made  the  castle  uninhabitable. 

At  the  present  day  the  chief  interest  of  Djoekjakerta  is 
that  it  is  a  centre  from  which  the  Buddhist  temples  of 
Mendoet  and  Boro  Boedoer^  and  the  superb  Brahminical 
ruins  of  the  Brambanan  temples  can  be  visited.  Near  the 
Kesident's  house  is  a  collection  of  old  and  ancient  Hindu 
carvings  of  great  interest  to  the  archaeologist. 

Djoekja  is  a  very  healthy  place,  with  a  temperate  climate, 
broad  roads,  a  fine  club,  and  two  or  three  good  hotels — 
"  Mataram,"  "  Toegoe,"  and  the  new  one,  the  "  Grand 
Hotel." 

The  British  Resident  at  Djoekjakerta  in  1811  was  for  a 
short  time  Captain  Robinson,  but  he  was  merely  a  locum 
tenens  with  the  Dutch  Resident  Pieter  Engelhard  until  the 
arrival  of  John  Crawfurd"  on  the  15th  November,  1811. 
Crawfurd  was  replaced  by  Captain  R.  C.  Garnham  in  1814, 
who  was  in  turn  replaced  by  Dr.  Ainslie,  who  remained  at 
this  post  until  the  evacuation. 

Tjilatjap. 

Tjilatjap  is  the  largest  port  on  the  south  coast,  both  from 
a  commercial  and  a  military  point  of  view.     During  the 

'  Dutch,  spelling. 

2  John  Crawfurd  was  the  first  civil  Governor  of  Singapore  in  1822. 


520  JAVA 

Hindu  period  there  was  a  settlement  here,  and  a  few  remains 
are  still  visible.  Until,  however,  late  in  the  nineteenth 
century  it  remained,  for  Europeans,  a  port  of  small  import- 
ance. One  of  the  first  assistant  Residents  at  Tjilatjap 
conceived  great  ideas  of  the  place,  which  it  is  very  likely 
will  still  be  reahsed.  He  laid  out  the  town  in  a  very  sym- 
metrical maimer,  with  wide  and  shady  avenues.  Un- 
fortunately the  climate  and  the  soil  are  both  bad,  and  when 
Europeans  first  went  there  the  place  became  a  graveyard. 

Tjilatjap  is  laid  on  a  partially  dried-up  swamp  and  the 
coast  is  covered  with  rotting  coral — all  unhealthy  elements. 
Besides  this,  however,  an  unhealthy  and  poisonous  exhala- 
tion is  conveyed  across  the  Java  inland  sea  (called  Kinder 
Zee)  from  the  swamps  behind  it,  which  breed  a  deadly 
malaria.  The  curious  aspect  of  this  malaria  is  that  its 
worst  effects  are  only  felt  after  the  person  leaves  the  place, 
but  the  former  resident's  constitution  having  been  under- 
mined (although  he  has  not  known  it),  he  soon  succumbs  to 
his  enemy  when  it  attacks  him  openly. 

The  houses  are  built  in  the  ordinary  Java  style,  and  there 
is  an  excellent  club  here. 

The  harbour  is  fairly  large  and  capacious,  and  the  wharf, 
alongside  which  the  railway  runs,  can  berth  five  or  six 
steamers  at  a  time,  and  it  is  very  seldom  empty. 

There  are  three  very  good  hotels  here,  the  "Belle  Vue  " 
being  about  the  best. 

BuiTENZORG. 

\While  Batoetoelis  (Batu  Tulis),  which  is  near  to  the 
present  town  of  Buitenzorg,  was  the  capital  of  the  empire 
of  Pajajaran,  which  went  on  existing  after  Majapahit  had 
fallen,  Buitenzorg  itself  only  came  into  existence  in  1745, 
when  the  Governor-General,  van  Imhoff,  purchased  the 
whole  of  Bogoh  for  a  song  and  built  a  house  here  which  was 
called  the  "  Heerenhuis  of  Bogoh."     This  seat  was  passed 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  521 

on  from  one  Governor- General  to  the  other,  and  the  building 
from  being  modest  in  style  developed  as  time  went  on  into  a 
palace,  which  Raffles  made  into  the  beautiful  structure  that 
now  stands. 

Daendels,  who  had  to  fill  a  depleted  treasury,  is  responsible 
for  having  divided  Bogoh  up  into  lots  and  put  them  up  to 
auction,  selling  them  with  great  profit. 

Buitenzorg  (the  Dutch  for  "  outside  care  ")  stands  about 
700  feet  high  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  Salak,  and  is 
connected  by  rail  with  Batavia,  only  thirty-six  miles  away. 
The  climate  is  very  healthy  and  cool,  but  it  rains  almost 
every  day.  In  the  EngHsh  time  Raffles  lived  here  per- 
petually, and  even  in  his  time  there  was  a  large  passar  here, 
and  a  number  of  well-built  European  houses  ;  while  barracks 
for  the  soldiers  and  numerous  batteries  built  by  the  French 
were  visible  everywhere. 

Buitenzorg  is  a  beautiful  spot — more  so  now  probably 
than  formerly,  owing  to  the  buildings  lying  hidden  beneath  a 
mass  of  dark  foliage — with  broad  avenues  and  great  waringen 
trees  planted  everywhere  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago.  There 
is  a  Protestant  church  here,  a  club,  a  race-course,  and  an 
entrancing  bathing  retreat  at  Soekadingin. 

The  jewel,  however,  of  Buitenzorg  is  of  course  the 
Botanical  Gardens,  which  are  world-renowned.  They  were 
begim  in  quite  a  humble  way  in  1754,  when  special  care  was 
taken  of  the  gardens  immediately  surrounding  the  "  Heeren- 
huis."  The  gardens,  however,  were  never  taken  properly 
in  hand  until  1817^  when  Reinwardt  raised  them  from 
ordinary  gardens  into  scientific  horticultural  gardens  of  the 
first  order.  The  Dutch,  as  is  well  known,  are  the  best 
horticulturists  the  world  has  ever  seen,  and  the  late  super- 
intendent of  these  gardens,  Professor  Treub,  a  man  of 
extraordinary  energj^  combined  with  exceptional  ability, 
brought  the  gardens  to  a  state  which  makes  them  the 
wonder    of    all    horticultural    scientists.     A    tropical    sun, 


522  JAVA 

daily  showers,  a  century's  hard  work,  clever  professors,  and 
an  interested  Government  have  not  only  made  these  gardens 
the  first  in  the  world,  but  have  made  the  efforts  of  the 
English  at  Hongkong,  Singapore,  Calcutta,  and  in  the  West 
Indies,  as  also  those  of  the  French  at  Saigon,  to  sink  into 
insignificance  beside  them.  There  is  a  herbarium,  museum 
and  library,  and  botanical,  zoological,  agricultural,  chemical 
and  pharmacological  laboratories,  also  the  museum  of  the 
Forest  Department  and  the  photozincographical  studio,  all 
of  which  can  be  visited. 

The  plants  are,  as  a  rule,  arranged  according  to  the  natural 
system ;  every  species  is  represented  by  two  specimens,  one 
of  which  bears  a  label.  Entering  the  gardens  through  the 
old  stone  gate  by  the  Chinese  passar,  one  comes  to  the 
celebrated  canary-tree  avenue,  which  was  laid  out  by  the 
well-known  horticulturist  Teysmann  eighty  years  ago.  To 
the  right  behind  the  porter's  house  is  the  largest  of  all  the 
lianas  represented  in  the  gardens  {entada  monostachya) . 

In  this  section  is  to  be  seen  the  monument  erected  to  the 
wife  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  who  died  at  Buitenzorg  on  the 
26th  November,  1814,  and  was  buried  at  Tanahbang. 

The  record  of  her  death  made  at  the  time  reads  as  follows  : 

"  At  Buitenzorg  on  the  26th  November  (1814)  Olivia  Marianne^ 
the  Lady  of  the  Honourable  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles,  Esquire, 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  this  Colony.  The  numerous  assemblage 
of  persons  of  both  sexes  to  assist  at  the  mournful  ceremony  of 
paying  the  last  duties  and  honours  to  the  deceased,  and  the 
general  and  marked  expression  of  grief  which  was  there  evinced, 
is  the  best  proof  of  the  respect  and  regard  which  her  benevolence 
and  manners  had  acquired  among  a-ll  classes  of  society  in  Java  r 
and  her  more  immediate  friends  will  justly  say  that  possessed 
in  life  of  a  heart  glowing  with  the  most  generous  affection.s,  and 
of  a  mind  guided  by  the  purest  principles  of  friendship  and 
kindness,  she  lived  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her,  and  carries  to 
the  grave  the  certainty  of  being  ever  remembered  by  them  with 
a  fond,  devoted  and  faithful  attachment.  Her  remains  were 
interred  at  Batavia  by  the  side  of  the  late  Dr.  Leyden." 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  523 

There  is  also  the  gi-ave  here  of  Madame  Rochussen,  nee 
Vincent,  wife  of  the  Governor-General  of  that  name  and 
grand-aunt  of  the  author. 

Against  the  trunks  of  the  canary  trees  are  all  sorts  of 
climbing  plants,  grown  chiefly  from  the  aroideal  genus,  and 
their  branches  are  covered  with  epiphytic  plants.  There  is 
also  here  that  gigantic  orchid  Grammatophyllum  speciosum, 
which  sometimes  bears  as  many  as  three  thousand  flowers 
at  one  time,  and  the  Monstera  deliciosa,  with  its  perforated 
leaves.  Then  you  have  the  Amherstia  nohilis,  with  its  red 
branches  of  blossom,  and  the  Saracca,  with  its  yellow 
bouquet  of  flowers.  There  are  also  the  yellow  flowers  of 
the  towering  Pithecolohrium ;  and  plants  of  the  shade  tree 
{Schizolobium  excelsum).  Then  there  is  the  XantJwphyllum 
vitellinum,  of  the  genus  of  the  PolygalecB,  to  which  in  tem- 
perate zones  only  herbs  and  plants  belong.  The  Plu7niera 
acutifolia  of  the  Javanese  churchyard  is  also  to  be  seen 
here  ;  it  is  peculiar  for  its  finger-shaped  fantastic  branches 
and  the  fact  that  there  are  very  few  leaves.  It  is  continually 
in  bloom.  On  another  side  of  the  Djalan  Besar  (great  way) 
is  the  collection  of  palms — the  lofty  Oncosperma  filamentosa, 
the  red  pinang  {Cyrtostachys  rendali),  the  upright  emperor 
palm  (Oreodoxa),  indigenous  to  Brazil,  different  species  of 
phoenix,  among  which  are  the  date  palm  {Phidactylifera) ,  a 
number  of  varieties  of  the  coconut-palm  (Cocos  Jiucifera), 
the  oil-palm  {Elceis  Guinensis)  from  New  Guinea,  the  sago- 
palm  (Metroxylon) ,  and  finally  the  cocoa  de  mer  {Lodoicea 
Seychellarum) ,  with  its  enormous  and  apparently  double 
fruit  and  its  large  fan-shaped  leaves,  the  stems  of  which  are 
as  hard  as  iron.  To  the  left  of  the  palm  section,  which  is  so 
representative,  one  passes  the  resinous-smelling  section  of 
the  Gymnospermce,  in  which  arauc arias  and  damonars  grow 
luxuriantly.  Near  here  the  botanist  can  also  study  the 
Bhizophorce,  or  mangroves,  which  cover  the  mudbanks  of 
the  waste  everywhere  in  the  archipelago.     Here  also  is  the 


524  JAVA 

Sonneratia  acida,  a  giant  tree  from  the  marshes  ;  and,  if 
one  will,  one  can  search  out  the  Cyperus  papyrus,  the  plant 
from  which  the  Egyptians  collected  papyrus. 

There  are  strange  ant  plants  {Myrmecodia) ,  whose 
swollen,  spongy,  perforated  stems  swarm  with  ants.  A 
botanist,  however,  has  discovered  that  these  plants  are  not 
designedly  so  made,  although  the  ants  take  advantage  of 
the  opportunity  Nature  gives  them  for  a  comfortable  abode. 
Crotons  {Codiceuvi),  sweet  cassava  (Manihot  utilissima),  and 
the  Ceara  rubber  tree,  iron-wood  trees,  the  Sterculiacece, 
with  its  orange-red  fruit  leaves  and  velvet-black  seeds,  grow 
wildly  in  a  corner.  Further  on  in  the  gardens,  in  another 
department,  flourish  species  of  ElcBcarpus,  the  Para  nut- 
yielding  hertholletia  excelsa,  elegant  blooming  barringtonias, 
and  the  Melania,  producing  the  famous  kajonpoetih  oil,  the 
cure  for  cold  and  relief  for  influenzas.  There  are  also  the 
zuurzak,  hoea  nonna,  and  sirikaya,  all  well-known  fruit  trees 
in  Java  of  the  family  Anonacece  ;  there  is  also  in  this  patch 
the  Magnoliacece. 

The  sweet-smelling  Myristica  Horsfieldii  (Dr.  Horsfield 
was  the  English  botanist  here  in  Kaffles's  time,  1811  to  1816) 
shows  its  presence  by  casting  its  odour  far  abroad.  The 
Stelechocarpus  hurahol  finds  also  a  place,  bearing  fruit  and 
flowers  on  its  trunk.  Mention  must  also  be  made  of  the 
ebony,  kaki  fruit,  styrax,  benzoin  and  getah  pertsja 
trees,  belonging  to  the  Diospyros  species.  In  a  portion 
of  the  gardens  reserved  for  the  Governor- General,  which, 
however,  his  Excellency  is  always  willing  to  give  per- 
mission to  important  visitors  to  look  at,  is  to  be  found 
the  Victoria  regia  floating  on  the  small  lake,  also  the 
Urostigma  rumphii  and  Kigelia  pinnata,  with  its  sausage- 
shaped  fruit. 

Past  here,  between  the  Sapindacece  and  Sapindus  rarak, 
from  which  soap  can  be  made  with  the  help  of  water  in  a 
minute  or  two,  we  perceive  the  Filicium  decipiens,  which  is 


THE   TOWNS    IN    JAV^A,    ETC.  525 

indigenous  to  Ceylon.  Here  is  also  the  Ficus  elastica,  which, 
according  to  the  Dutch,  is  the  best  rubber  tree  for  Java/ 
Then  there  is  a  pond  with  its  NymjpJima  species  ;  the  family 
of  the  Meliacece,  to  w^hich  belongs  the  mahogany-tree,  the 
coca-yielding  Erythroxylon  coca.  In  another  division  chahce- 
bearing  plants  climb  the  trees,  and  here  stands  the  Par- 
mentiera  cerifera,  with  its  fruit  like  wax  candles. 

Along  by  the  lotus  at  the  end  of  the  large  lake  are  the 
fan-shaped  banana  trees,  called  the  "  traveller's  tree " 
{Bavenala  madagascariensis) ,  the  ginger  tree,  cardamom, 
and  curcuma.  There  is  a  rose  garden  in  which  is  a  monu- 
ment to  Teysmann.  The  poisonous  upas  tree  too  is  here, 
of  which  more  later  on.  The  orchid  house  must  also  be 
seen,  as  well  as  the  conservatory,  with  Passiflora,  Fuchsonia, 
Maranta,  Calaihea,  the  Bromeliacece,  growing  on  coral,  and  a 
group  of  Anthurium  and  Diffenhacliia. 

From  this  cursory  description  it  can  be  readily  perceived 
that  the  gardens  are  of  a  highly  scientific  order.  However, 
to  give  a  full  description  needs  greater  knowledge  than 
mine. 

At  Batoetoelis  is  the  stone  which  commemorates  the 
founding  of  the  empire  of  Pajajarcm. 

Near  here  are  still  a  few  Hindu  remains.  There  are  two 
hotels  at  Buitenzorg,  the  "  Chemin  de  Fer  "  and  "  Hotel 
Belle  Vue."  From  the  mountain  rooms  in  the  latter  a 
magnificent  view  is  obtainable  over  the  face  of  the  volcano 
Salak  and  the  valley  beneath.  Two  hundred  feet  below 
runs  the  river,  through  gi'oves  of  palms,  here  and  there 
broken  by  the  toy  houses  of  the  Javans,  who  seem  to  spend 
their  day  gambolling  in  the  running  water.^ 

Thomas  Macquoid  was  the  British  Resident  of  the 
**  Buitenzorg  and  Batavia  Regencies,"  as  the  district  was 

^  The  author  does  not  agree.     Eevea  is  probably  the  best. 
»  The  "  Guide  to  the  Dutch  East  Indies,"  in  EngUsh,  by  J.  F.  van 
Bemmelen  and  G.  B.  Hooyer,  should  be  procured. 


526  JAVA 

called  in  1812,  and  remained  as  such  until  1814,  when  the 
title  became  "  Buitenzorg  and  Batavia-Preanger  Regencies." 

In  1815  F.  E.  Hardy  was  Resident  of  Buitenzorg  and  van 
Doorninck  assistant  Resident,  Macquoid  being  Resident  of 
the  "  Preanger  Regencies." 

These  positions  were  retained  until  the  Dutch  reassumed 
charge  of  the  country  again. 

SOEKABOEMI. 

The  name  Soekaboemi,  which  really  sprang  into  existence 
for  Europeans  during  Raffles'  time,  means  "  the  desire  of 
the  world."  The  place  lies  in  the  district  known  as  the 
Preanger.  It  is  on  the  railway  and  two  hours  beyond 
Buitenzorg.  Lying  1,600  feet  high,  it  has  an  equable 
temperature  of  75  degrees  Fahrenheit,  and  thus  has  a 
dehghtful  climate,  and  is  one  of  the  best  places  in  Java  in 
which  permanently  to  reside.  An  excellent  club  and  some 
first-rate  hotels  make  it  a  place  worth  visiting  in  order  to 
get  a  glimpse  of  the  surrounding  country,  which  is  beautiful 
in  the  extreme.  The  hotels  "  Victoria,"  "  Selabatoe,"  and 
"  Ploem  "  are  the  best.  From  here  visits  can  be  made  to 
Selabintana,  or  to  some  of  the  well-known  tea  estates 
near  here — Goalpara  and  Perbawatie,  etc. 

From  one  of  the  latter  the  Telaga  Warna,  or  "  the  un- 
fathomable lake,"  inside  an  old  volcano,  can  be  reached. 

Soekaboemi  was  the  land  bought  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles, 
Thomas  Macquoid  (the  old  Governor  of  Java's  east  coast), 
Nicolaus  Engelhard,  and  A.  de  Wilde,  a  purchase  which 
caused  such  wide-spread  dissatisfaction,  the  price  having 
been  only  58,000  Spanish  dollars.  Long  after  Raffles  had 
left  Java  the  land  was  sold  for  800,000  rupees.  To-day  the 
same  land  would  fetch  millions. 

Bandoeng. 

Bandoeng  was  founded  by  Sultan  Agoeng  of  Cheribon  in 
1641,  when  he  sent  three  hundred  tjatjahs  (families)  here. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  527 

His  successor  increased  this  number  to  one  thousand.  It 
is  now  the  fourth  largest  town  in  Java,  and  is  still  growing  ; 
it  is  in  the  Preanger  district,  in  the  centre  of  a  plain  fifty 
miles  each  way  and  surrounded  by  mountains.  During  the 
morning  there  is  generally  a  mist,  but  by  7  o'clock  this  has 
entirely  disappeared,  and  the  mountain  air  blows  over  the 
place  the  whole  day.  There  is  a  large  missigit  here,  a  park 
around  the  Kesident's  house,  and  a  race-course.  Beautiful 
drives  can  be  obtained  in  every  direction.  Near  here 
are  many  well-known  tea  estates,  and  not  far  off  are 
Tjiwangie,  formerly  managed  by  the  well-known  Preanger 
Englishman  Noel  Bingley,^  and  Goenoeng  Malang,  until 
recently  managed  by  a  Dutchman  named  Halewyn. 

There  is  a  well-known  bathing  place  near  Bandoeng  called 
Tjiampelas  Snidanglya,  where  there  is  a  well-known  sana- 
torium 5,000  feet  up,  and  Soemedang  may  also  be  reached 
from  here.  Then  there  is  the  waterfall  Penganten,  the 
crater  of  the  Patoeha,  the  Telaga  Patengah,  5,550  feet  high, 
and  surrounded  by  Peruvian  bark  plantations.  The  volcano 
Tangkoeban  Prahoe  near  is  a  wonderful  sight  and  is  easily 
visited. 

Nowadays  Bandoeng  has  nothing  to  complain  of  in  the 
way  of  hotels,  the  "  Preanger  "  and  "  Homann's  "  being 
quite  first  class,  while  the  "  Hotel  Phoenix  "  is  also  well 
patronised. 

Near  to  Bandoeng  is  the  mihtary  station  of  Mid  Java 
called  "  Tjimahi."  This  is  the  place  also  where  all  the  sick 
soldiers  of  West  Java  are  sent  to  recuperate. 

Garoet. 

Garoet  is  an  ideal  health  resort,  peaceful  and  quiet,  clean 
and  pretty,  amidst  lofty  mountains,  whose  cool  breezes 
soon  restore  the  invalid  seeking  a  renewal  of  health  and 

^  This  gentleman  married  Mejonkvrouwe  Roell,  a  daughter  of  the  dis- 
tinguished Dutch  admiral  of  that  name. 


528  JAVA 

strength.  There  are  several  interesting  places  near  to  visit. 
There  is  Tjipanas,  where  there  are  five  warm  springs,  each 
of  a  different  temperature,  in  which  for  a  few  cents  a  bath 
can  be  taken.  The  Papandajan,  a  volcanic  mountain 
5,000  feet  high,  can  be  approached  to  the  mouth  and  a  peep 
taken  into  the  seething,  snorting  bottom  of  the  crater, 
which  every  now  and  then,  as  it  were,  shakes  itself.  A 
guide  is  here  to  steer  you  through  the  mud  springs,  the 
sulphur  pillars,  the  deafening  noise  of  the  self-building 
sulphur  columns,  the  hot  vapours,  and  the  water-spouting 
mud  eruptions.  From  the  top  of  the  Papandayan  an  un- 
paralleled view  is  procurable  over  the  Preanger.  Near  also 
is  Tjisoeroepan  (where  there  is  an  hotel),  lying  in  a  cup  facing 
three  mountain  tops. 

At  Garoet  three  first-class  hotels  provide  for  visitors  ;  the 
*'  Van  Horck,"  the  "  Villa  Dolce,"  and  the  "  Hotel  Rupert  " 
are  all  equally  good. 

Bantam. 

Bantam  was  the  first  European  capital  of  Java. 

We  have  already  told  of  Drake's  visit  here  in  1579,  of 
Bobert  Cavendish's  in  1587,  and  of  the  first  Dutchman's 
(Cornelius  Houtman)  arrival  in  1596.  We  saw  also  how  the 
English  were  worried  by  the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  at 
first  mildly  and  latterly  more  severely,  from  1635  until  tha 
seizure  of  their  factory  in  1663.  We  also  know  that  by 
1682  Bantam  was  entirely  under  the  control  of  the  Dutch. 
There  is  no  use  pondering  on  the  "  might  have  been  "  if  the- 
English  had  only  kept  a  larger  force  here  from  the  beginning, 
when  Lancaster,  who  followed  up  Drake  and  Cavendish 
with  Queen  Elizabeth's  charter  in  his  pocket,  established  a 
factory  here  in  1602,  placing  a  man  named  Starkie  or 
Starckey  in  charge  as  governor  or  factor.  The  Dutch 
slowly  but  gradually  increased  their  power  here,  until  in 
1767  they  had  the  right  to  appoint  a  successor  to  the 
deceased  sultan.     In  1776  their  estabhshment  consisted  of 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  529 

20  civil  servants,  1  clergyman,  5  surgeons  and  assistants, 
17  of  the  artillery,  30  seamen,  199  soldiers,  and  10  mechanics 
— in  all  282  Europeans.  Its  population  was  considerable, 
but  the  composition  was  bad ;  madmen,  slaves,  criminal 
deserters,  Chinese  bankrupts  of  low  degree,  and  even 
murderers  took  refuge  here.  The  capital  was  built  wholly 
of  bamboo  near  the  sea-shore,  at  the  mouth  of  the  large 
river  which  empties  itself  into  the  bay.  The  sultan  resided 
in  a  palace  built  in  European  style,  within  a  ruinous  old 
fort  containing  eighty  cannon  of  various  descriptions.  The 
Dutch  had  a  very  powerful  fort  at  this  time  which  com- 
manded that  of  the  sultan.  The  sultan  assumed  European 
costume  on  great  public  days  ;  otherwise  he  was  dressed  as 
a  Malay.  His  seraglio  contained  about  four  hundred  women. 
The  kingdom  of  Bantam  at  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century 
exported  immense  quantities  of  pepper  and  rice,  besides  tin. 

From  being,  however,  a  town  of  very  great  importance  it 
has  to-day  sunk  into  comparative  insignificance. 

During  the  English  period  Major  Yule  was  the  British 
Kesident.  In  1814,  on  account  of  his  meritorious  services, 
he  was  promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel. 

It  was  at  Bantam  that  the  Kesident  Dupuy  was  wantonly 
killed  after  a  visit  to  the  sultan,  a  deed  necessitating  Daendels' 
proceeding  there  in  person  and  deposing  the  sultan. 

The  following  old  descriptions  of  Java  and  Bantam  may 
here  be  given  : 

"  An  Account  of  Java  and  the  First  Settlement  of  the 
English  at  Bantam.  With  a  Journal  of  Occurrences 
there  ;  particularly  in  regard  to  what  passed  between 
them  and  the  Dutch,  as  well  as  the  Natives,  from 
1602  TO  1605,  inclusively."  (From  the  Journal  Department, 
by  Edmund  Scot,  Governor  of  the  English  Factory  at 
Bantam  from  1602  to  1605.) 

"  Extent  and  Soil  of  Java.     Chief  Places  of  Trade.     Bantam 
Described.     Chinese  Town.     King's  Authority.     Mamiers  of  the 
J. — VOL.  I.  M  M 


530  JAVA 

Javans  :  Their  Arms  ;  Dress  ;  Religion  ;  have  no  Genius  for 
Industry  ;  or  Government.  Chinese  :  Their  Rehgion  ;  Sacri- 
fices ;  extreme  Perfuming  ;  fond  of  Plays  and  Singing  ;  their 
Soothsayers  ;  Habits. 

"  Extent  and  Soil.  Java  Major  is  an  island,  the  middle  part 
of  which  lies  in  the  ninth  degree  of  latitude.  It  is  about  an 
hundred  and  forty-six  leagues  long,  from  east  to  west ;  and 
ninety  broad,  from  south  to  north.  The  middle  part  is  mostly 
all  mountains  ;  which  are  not  so  steep,  but  that  the  natives 
ascend  them,  both  on  horseback  and  on  foot.  Some  people 
dwell  upon  the  hills  which  are  next  to  the  sea.  But  the  very 
middle  of  the  land  so  far  as  ever  the  Author  could  learn  is  inhabited 
by  nothing  but  wild  beasts.  They  are  of  divers  sorts  ;  and  often 
descending  into  the  valleys  near  the  shore,  devour  many  people. 
The  land  towards  the  sea,  for  the  most  part,  is  low  marshy 
ground  ;  and  there  stand  their  principal  towns  of  trade  ;  these 
lie  on  the  north  and  north  east  side  of  the  Island  as  Chiringin, 
Bantam,  Jakkatra  and  Jortan  or  Greesy. 

"  Chief  Places  of  Trade.  These  low  lands  are  very 
unliealthy,  breeding  many  diseases  (especially  among  strangers) 
and  yielding  no  merchandize  worth  speaking  of,  but  pepper  ; 
which  formerly  was  brought  from  all  parts  of  the  Island,  to 
Bantam  as  being  the  chief  mart  of  the  country.  It  was  Uke- 
wise  imported  from  divers  other  countries  ;  but  of  late  years 
that  custom  has  ceased,  the  Dutch  having  bought  it  up  every- 
where. 

"  Bantam  Described.  Bantam  for  trade  far  exceeds  Achin 
or  any  port  in  those  parts.  It  is  about  three  English  miles  in 
length  and  very  populous.  There  are  three  markets  kept  every 
day,  one  in  the  forenoon  and  two  in  the  afternoon,  where  the 
throng  is  as  great,  especially  to  the  first,  as  at  fairs  in  England. 
Yet  Mr.  Scot  never  saw  any  kind  of  cattle  to  sell,  by  reason  there 
are  very  few  tame  in  the  country.  Their  food  is  rice,  with  some 
hens,  and  a  little  fish.  The  houses  of  the  Javans  are  aU  made  of 
great  canes,  and  some  small  timber,  being  sHght  buildings  ;  yet 
in  many  of  the  principal  men's  houses,  good  workmanship  is  seen, 
as  carving  etc.  Some  have  a  square  brick  room  for  the  sole 
use  of  securing  their  furniture  in  case  of  fire.  Many  small  streams 
run  through  the  town,  which  hath  also  a  good  road  for  ships, 
so  that  if  they  were  people  who  had  any  genius,  it  might  be  made 
a  very  handsome  city.     It  is  surrounded  with  a  brick  wall,  and 


THE   TOWNS   IN  JAVA,    ETC.  531 

well  fortified  with  flankers  and  towers,  scouring  the  country 
every  way.  The  Author  was  told,  that  it  was  first  built  by  the 
Chinese,  but  in  many  places  it  is  fallen  to  decay  for  want  of 
repairing. 

"  Chinese  Town.  At  one  end  of  this  city  is  the  Chinese 
town,  a  narrow  river  parting  them,  which  runs  from  thence  to 
the  King's  palace,  and  so  through  the  great  town,  to  the  middle 
of  which  at  high  water,  both  galleys  and  junks,  of  great  burthen, 
may  sail  up.  This  Chinese  town  is  for  the  most  part  built  with 
brick.  The  houses  are  square,  and  flat  at  top  ;  some  of  them 
having  boards  and  small  pieces  of  timber,  or  spht  canes  laid 
across,  on  which  are  placed  bricks  and  sand,  to  defend  them  from 
fire.  Over  these  brick  warehouses  there  is  a  shed,  raised  with 
great  canes,  and  thatched.  Some  are  built  with  small  timber 
but  the  greatest  number  with  canes  only.  Since  the  English 
came  hither  many  of  the  richer  sort  have  built  their  houses  to 
the  top,  all  fireproof,  whereas  before  there  was  none  of  that  sort 
to  be  met  with,  except  the  Shah  Bandar's  and  the  rich  China 
Merchant's  house  ;  which  nevertheless  by  means  of  their  windows 
and  the  sheds  that  surround  them,  have  been  consumed.  In 
this  town  the  EngHsh  and  Dutch  have  their  houses,  which  are 
built  in  the  same  manner  only  they  are  a  great  deal  bigger,  and 
higher  than  ordinary  houses.  The  Dutch  have  lately  at  great 
expense  and  trouble  built  one  of  their  houses  of  brick  up  to  the 
top,  proof  as  they  suppose  against  fire. 

"  King's  Authority.  The  king  of  this  place  is  absolute  ;  and 
since  the  deposing  and  death  of  the  late  Emperor  of  Damak,  is 
held  the  principal  king  of  all  that  Island.  He  punisheth  offenders 
always  according  to  martial  law.  If  any  private  man's  wife 
be  convicted  of  adultery,  she  is  presently  put  to  death,  as  well  as 
the  gallant.  They  may  execute  their  slaves  for  any  small  fault. 
The  Javans  are  hmited  to  three  wives,  and  for  every  wife  a  free- 
man marries,  he  is  obhged  to  keep  ten  women  slaves,  and  some 
purchase  forty  or  more,  whom  they  make  use  of  at  will. 

"  jManners  of  the  Javans.  The  Javans  are  generally 
exceeding  proud,  although  extremely  poor,  by  reason  that  not 
one  in  a  hundred  will  work.  The  gentlemen  are  reduced  by  the 
number  of  slaves  they  keep,  who  eat  faster  than  their  pepper  or 
rice  grows.  The  Chinese  both  plant  dress  and  gather  pepper 
and  also  sow  their  rice,  living  as  slaves  under  them,  but  they 
gain  by  their  masters  laziness  ;    draining  in  effect  all  the  wealth 

M  M  2 


532  JAVA 

of  the  land  to  themselves.  A  Javan  is  so  proud  that  he  will  not 
endure  an  equal  to  sit  an  inch  higher  than  himself.  They  are  a 
very  blood-thirsty  revengeful  people,  yet  when  they  have  a 
quarrel  against  any  one,  either  of  their  own,  or  another  nation, 
seldom  decide  it  by  fair  fighting  but  murder  the  party  cowardly, 
although  they  are  for  the  most  part  large-bodied  men.  Their 
law  for  murder  is  to  pay  a  fine  to  the  king,  which  is  but  small, 
so  that  the  friends  of  the  deceased  will  be  sure  to  revenge  his 
death  on  the  murderer,  or  his  kindred  ;  while  the  King's  revenue 
increases  the  more  assassinations  there  are  committed. 

"  Their  Arms.  Their  ordinary  weapon  is  called  a  crise  and 
about  two  feet  in  length,  the  blade  is  scallopped  (like  a  flaming 
sword)  and  withal  exceeding  sharp.  The  metal  of  most  of  them, 
is  poisoned  in  the  tempering  ;  so  that  not  one  in  five  hundred, 
who  is  wounded  with  them,  escapeth  with  his  hfe.  The  handles 
of  these  weapons,  are  either  of  horn,  or  wood  curiously  carved  in 
the  likeness  of  a  devil,  which  many  of  them  worship.  In  their 
wars  they  fight  with  pikes,  darts  and  targets.  Of  late  a  few  of 
them  have  learned  to  use  muskets,  but  they  handle  them  very 
awkwardly. 

"  Their  Dress.  The  apparel  of  the  better  sort,  is  a  turban 
on  their  heads  and  about  their  loins,  a  fine  piece  of  cahco,  all 
the  rest  of  their  body  is  naked.  Now-and-then  on  extraordinary 
occasions  only  they  wear  a  close  coat,  somewhat  hke  a  cassock 
of  velvet  or  other  kind  of  silk.  The  common  sort  wear  on  their 
head,  a  flat  cap  of  velvet  taffata  or  calico  consisting  of  many 
pieces  neatly  sewed  together  to  make  them  fit  tight.  A  piece 
of  two  colours  is  tied  about  their  waist,  in  manner  of  a  girdle, 
but  at  least  one  yard  broad.  This  is  a  kind  of  cahco,  made  at 
Clyn,  from  whence  come  many  sorts  ;  which  they  dye,  paint  and 
gild  according  to  the  fashion  of  that  country.  They  hkewise  may 
have  a  kind  of  striped  stuff  made  of  either  cotton  or  rinds  of 
trees,  but  they  are  so  lazy,  that  there  is  very  httle  of  it  worn. 
Most  of  the  men  have  very  thick  curled  hair,  in  which  they  take 
great  pride,  often  going  bareheaded  to  show  it.  The  women 
also  go  with  their  heads  and  their  hair  tied  up,  like  the  tails  of 
horses  in  England.  About  their  middles  they  wear  the  same 
covering  as  the  men  ;  always  having  a  fair  girdle,  or  pintado  of 
their  country  fashion,  thrown  over  their  shoulders  which  hangeth 
down  loose  behind. 

"  Religion.     The  principal  men  among  them  are  most  religious. 


THE   TOWNS    m   JAVA,   ETC.  533 

but  they  seldom  go  to  church.  They  acknowledge  Christ  for  a 
Prophet,  whom  they  call  Nabi  Ifa,  and  some  of  them  keep 
Mohamedan  priests  in  their  houses,  but  the  common  people  have 
very  little  notion  of  any  rehgion  only  they  say  there  is  a  God, 
who  made  heaven  and  earth,  and  them  also,  that  he  is  good  and 
will  not  hurt  them,  but  that  there  is  a  devil  who  being  of  a 
malevolent  disposition,  is  incHned  to  afflict  them,  wherefore, 
many  pray  to  him,  merely  for  fear.  Both  sexes  are  very  lasci- 
viously given.  All  those  who  are  in  authority  are  guilty  of  taking 
bribes,  and  the  Javans  in  general  are  bad  paymasters,  notwith- 
standing their  laws  for  debt  are  so  strict,  that  the  creditor  may 
take  his  debtor,  his  wives,  children,  slaves  and  all  that  he  hath, 
and  sell  them  for  his  debt. 

"  No  Genius  for  Industry.  They  are  also  much  addicted  to 
steahng  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  and  without  doubt 
formerly  they  were  man  eaters,  before  the  Chinese  traded  with 
them,  which  as  the  Author  was  told,  was  not  above  one  hundred 
years  thence.  They  delight  much  in  ease  and  musick,  and  for 
the  most  part,  spend  the  day  sitting  cross-legged  like  a  taylor, 
whittling  a  stick,  whereby  many  of  them  become  very  good 
carvers,  and  indeed  all  the  work  that  most  of  them  covet  to  do  is 
to  carve  the  handle  of  their  crise.  They  are  very  great  eaters, 
but  the  gentlemen  allow  their  slaves  nothing  but  rice  boiled  in 
water,  with  some  roots  and  herbs.  Among  the  latter  is  one 
called  bettaile,  which  they  usually  have  carried  with  them  in 
boxes  or  wrapped  up  in  a  cloth,  like  a  sugar  loaf,  also  a  nut  called 
pinango,  these  are  both  of  a  very  hot  quality  and  they  eat  them 
continually  to  warm  their  stomachs  and  keep  them  from  the 
flux.     They  hkewise  are  great  takers  of  tobacco  and  opium. 

"  Or  Government.  The  Javans  having  no  genius  for  govern- 
ment or  managing  affairs  of  state,  many  of  those  who  come  from 
the  country  of  Clyn,  to  settle  there,  grow  very  rich  and  rise  to 
great  offices  and  dignity  amongst  them,  such  as  that  of  Shar 
Bandar,  Laytamougon,  etc.  But  most  of  all  the  Chinese,  who 
like  Jews  live  crouching  under  them,  yet  fleece  them  of  their 
wealth  and  send  it  to  China. 

"  Chestese  : — Their  Religion.  The  Chinese  are  very  crafty 
in  trading,  using  all  kinds  of  couzening,  and  tricks  that  can  be 
devised.  They  have  no  pride  in  them  nor  will  refuse  any  labour, 
except  they  turn  Javans  (as  many  of  them  do,  when  they  have 
committed  a  murder  or  some  other  villainy)  and  then  they  become 


534  JAVA 

every  whit  as  proud,  and  as  lazy.  For  their  religion  they  are 
of  divers  sects,  but  most  of  them  are  Atheists.  Many  of  them 
believe,  that  when  they  die,  if  they  were  good  livers,  they  shall 
be  born  agam  to  great  riches,  and  be  made  governors  ;  but  if 
wicked  men,  they  shall  be  turned  into  some  vile  animal,  as  a 
frog  or  a  toad.  They  burn  sacrifices  every  new  moon,  mumbling 
prayers  over  them  with  a  kind  of  singing  voice,  and  as  they  sing 
they  tinkle  a  little  bell  which  at  the  end  of  every  prayer  they 
ring  out  as  loud  as  they  can.  This  ceremony  they  also  observe 
when  any  amongst  them  of  any  account  He  a  djdng.  The  manner 
of  their  sacrifice  is  this  ;  they  furnish  their  altars  with  goats, 
hens,  ducks,  and  divers  sorts  of  fruits,  which  flesh  is  sometimes 
ready  dressed  for  eating  and  sometimes  raw,  but  is  afterwards 
dressed  and  eaten.  All  that  they  burn  is  only  papers  painted, 
and  cut  out  in  figures  which  are  valued  by  them  at  a  certain 
price.  The  Author  many  times  asked  them,  to  whom  they  burned 
their  sacrifice  ?  and  they  answered  to  God  ;  but  the  Guzerats, 
and  Turks,  who  are  there,  said  they  burned  it  to  the  Devil ;  if 
they  do  so  they  are  ashamed  to  confess  it. 

"  Many  of  them  are  well  skilled  in  astronomy,  and  keep  an 
exact  account  of  time.  They  observe  no  Sabbath,  nor  one  day 
more  than  other,  except  when  they  lay  the  foundation  of  a  house, 
or  begin  some  other  great  work  ;  which  day  they  ever  after  keep 
as  a  hohday.  When  any  of  the  wealthy  sort  die  in  Bantam,  their 
bodies  are  burnt  and  the  ashes  carried  in  jars  close  stopped  up, 
to  their  friends  in  China.  When  some  of  them  have  lain  a  dymg, 
Mr.  Scot  hath  observed  them  to  burn  seven  perfumes,  four  of 
them  being  large  and  casting  great  light,  were  set  upon  a  cane, 
which  rested  upon  two  supports  about  six  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  the  other  three  which  were  very  small  and  burnt  dim,  were 
placed  on  the  ground  directly  under  them.  He  often  enquired 
the  meaning  of  this  ceremony  but  could  never  get  any  other 
answer  than  that  it  was  the  fashion  of  China,  which  is  all  the 
grounds  they  have  for  many  other  customs. 

"  Fond  of  Plays  and  Singi7ig.  They  delight  much  in  plays  and 
singing  but  have  the  worst  voices  in  the  world.  These  plays  or 
interludes  a,re  performed  as  service  to  their  Gods,  and  often 
introduced  with  a  burnt  sacrifice,  the  priests  kneehng  down 
frequently  and  kissing  the  ground  three  times  successively. 
These  plays  are  acted  commonly  when  they  think  their  junks 
or  shipping  are  set  out  from  China,  hkewise  when  they  arrive 


THE   TOWNS    m   JAVA,    ETC.  535 

at  Bantam,  and  set  out  from  thence  towards  China.  They 
sometimes  begin  at  noon  and  do  not  end  till  next  morning,  being 
for  the  general  exhibited  in  the  open  street  on  stages  set  up  for 
the  purpose. 

"  Their  Soothsayers.  These  people  have  their  soothsayers  who 
sometimes  run  raging  up  and  down  the  streets  like  madmen, 
with  drawn  swords  in  their  hands,  tearing  their  hair  and  throwing 
themselves  against  the  ground.  They  affirm  that  when  they 
are  in  these  frantic  fits,  they  can  tell  what  shall  come  to  pass. 
Many  Chinese  believe  this,  and  when  they  send  a  jmik  to  sea, 
apply  to  them,  to  know  whether  they  shall  speed  well  or  not, 
and  by  their  report,  things  have  fallen  out  just  as  the  diviner  had 
predicted. 

"  Their  Habit.  The  Chinese  wear  long  gowns  with  cassocks 
under  them,  hanging  something  lower.  Mr.  Scot  was  persuaded 
they  were  the  most  effeminate  and  cowardly  people  in  the  world. 
On  their  heads  they  wear  a  caul,  some  made  of  silk  and  others 
of  hair.  The  hair  of  their  heads  is  very  long  which  they  bind 
up  in  a  knot,  just  over  the  crown.  Their  nobility  and  governors 
wear  hoods  of  sundry  fashions,  some  of  them  are  of  an  odd  make, 
one  half  being  like  a  hat,  and  the  other  like  a  french  hood,  others 
again  are  of  net-work  with  a  high  crown  and  no  brims.  These 
people  are  tall  and  strong  with  very  small  black  eyes,  and  generally 
without  any  hair  on  their  faces.  They  will  steal  and  do  any  kind 
of  villainy  to  get  wealth.  Their  manner  at  Bantam  is  to  buy 
women  slaves  (for  they  bring  no  women  out  of  China),  by  whom, 
they  have  many  children,  and  when  they  go  back  to  their  own 
country  with  an  intention  to  return  no  more  to  Bantam,  they 
sell  their  women  but  carry  their  children  with  them.  As  for  their 
goods,  they  leave  an  order  for  some  to  be  sent  after  them  with 
every  fleet  that  sails,  for  if  they  die  in  Bantam,  all  the  effects 
they  have  there  belong  to  the  King,  and  if  once  they  cut  their 
hair,  tliey  must  never  return  to  China,  however  their  children 
may,  provided  they  do  not  cut  their  hair. 

"  Factory  at  Bantam.  When  the  general  departed  from 
Bantam  the  tweiity-first  of  February  1602,  he  left  nine  persons 
to  reside  there,  over  whom  he  appointed  Mr.  William  Starkey 
to  be  chief  commander,  he  likewise  left  his  pinnace  with  thirteen 
more  to  go  for  Banda,  under  the  command  of  Thomas  Tudde, 
merchant,  and  for  master  one  Thomas  Keith.  As  his  orders 
were  that  the  pinnace  should  be  sent  away  with  all  speed,  she 


536  JAVA 

was  forthwith  laden  with  fifty  six  chests  and  packs  of  goods,  and 
on  the  sixth  of  March,  at  night  set  sail,  but  by  reason  of  contrary 
winds  she  was  forced  to  return,  after  she  had  spent  near  two 
months,  beating  up  and  down  at  sea.  The  general  left  the 
English  two  houses  full  of  goods  (besides  some  which  lay  in  the 
house  of  the  Dutch)  but  their  number  was  too  few  to  manage 
one  well. 

"  Quarrel  with  the  Javans.  Before  the  ships  departed,  a 
quarrel  arose  betwixt  the  English  and  the  Javans  who  fought 
by  all  means  they  could  to  be  revenged,  in  so  much  that  presently 
after  the  pinnace  set  sail,  they  attempted  to  fire  their  principal 
house  with  darts  and  arrows  in  the  night,  and  if  in  the  day,  they 
brought  out  any  goods  to  air,  they  were  sure  to  have  the  town 
fired  not  far  to  windward.  Had  not  those  fire-arrows  been 
discovered  by  some  of  them,  in  all  probabiUty  both  house  and 
goods  had  been  consumed,  as  plainly  appeared  by  the  top, 
when  they  went  to  repair  it.  This  mahce  of  the  rascally  sort 
of  people  continued  for  the  space  of  two  years  before  it  was 
quashed. 

"  So  soon  as  the  pinnace  was  dispatched  they  began  to  lay 
the  foundation  of  their  house,  which  was  seventy-two  foot  long 
and  thirty-six  broad,  but  just  at  that  time  a  new  protector 
(of  the  king)  happening  to  be  chosen,  they  were  put  to  some 
trouble  and  cost,  before  they  could  be  permitted  to  go  through 
with  it.  They  Hkewise  aired  their  prize  goods,  and  ]Mr.  Starkey 
■  caused  the  leathers  of  most  of  the  packs  to  be  stripped  off,  after 
which  these  goods  did  not  keep  their  colours  any-thing  so  well  as 
the  rest. 

"  The  Town  Fired.  The  twenty  first  of  March,  the  town  was 
set  on  fire  by  a  gun  shot  off  by  the  Chinese  captain,  which  con- 
sumed many  houses  full  of  merchandize.  Amongst  others  the 
Dutch  house  was  burnt  to  the  ground  where  the  English  had 
sixty  five  bales  of  goods  besides  some  pepper.  They  had  also 
some  pepper  lying  at  a  Chinese  house,  which  for  the  most  part  was 
burned  and  spoiled,  so  that  they  lost  one  hundred  and  ninety 
sacks,  besides  the  damage  the  rest  received.  Their  loss  by  this 
fire  was  great  but  it  was  well  it  proved  no  greater  considering 
how  near  the  flame  came  to  both  their  houses  then  in  no  condition 
to  withstand  it,  especially  one  of  them  which  the  fire  approached 
within  three  yards,  insomuch  that  the  jams  of  the  windows  were 
so  hot,  that  a  man  could  hardly  suffer  his  hand  to  touch  them, 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  537 

and  yet  the  old  and  dry  thatch  took  no  fire  to  the  great  surprise 
of  people  of  several  nations. 

"  English  Factory  est  Danger.  All  the  villains  in  the  country 
were  gathered  about  this  house,  so  that  the  English  durst  take 
no  rest  that  night,  for  fear  they  should  throw  some  firebrands 
upon  it.  In  the  evening  as  some  of  them  stood  at  the  door  there 
came  Javans  whom  they  knew  to  be  notorious  thieves  and  asked 
what  number  of  them  lay  in  that  house  ?  They  were  asked 
again,  what  business  was  that  of  theirs  ?  And  told,  that  if  they 
would  know  they  should  come  at  midnight  and  see.  At  this 
answer  they  went  away  ver}'-  much  disgruntled,  but  they  were  so 
very  bold,  that  in  the  day  time  they  would  come  and  before  the 
faces  of  the  English  look  to  see  how  their  doors  were  hung,  and 
what  fastening  they  had  within.  They  were  often  informed  by 
some,  who  wished  them  well,  that  if  they  did  not  keep  good 
watch  there  was  a  crew  who  designed  to  break  in  suddenly  upon 
them,  and  cut  their  throats,  insomuch  that  there  being  but  four 
in  that  house  (of  whom  the  author  was  one)  what  with  over- 
watching  and  what  with  the  flux,  which  reigneth  much  in  that 
country  they  were  grown  so  very  weak,  that  two  of  them  never 
recovered  it. 

"  Van  Warwick  Arrives.  The  nineteenth  of  April  1603, 
there  came  into  the  road  nine  sail  of  Hollanders  under  the  com- 
mand of  Wyborne  van  Warwick  who  shortly  after  sent  two  of 
them  for  China  and  two  for  the  Molukkos,  two  landed  at  Bantam, 
and  one  went  to  Jortan.  He  likewise  dispatched  a  pinnace  to 
Achen  to  order  certain  ships  (that  went  from  thence  by  Captain 
Spilberg's  directions  to  Zeilon  to  take  a  small  fort  from  the 
Portugueze)  to  come  to  Bantam,  he  waiting  there  with  one  ship 
for  their  arrival.  The  English  were  very  much  beholden  to  this 
general,  for  wine  and  bread  besides  many  other  necessaries  and 
courtesies  received  at  his  hands.  He  would  often  tell  tliem  how 
Sir  Richard  Luson  reheved  him  at  sea  when  he  was  likely  to 
perish,  and  that  for  the  same  reason  he  was  bound  to  be  kind 
to  the  Englishmen,  wherever  he  met  with  them.  To  speak  the 
truth  says  j\'Ir.  Scot,  there  was  not  anything  in  his  ships  for  the 
relief  of  the  sick  men,  but  they  might  have  commanded  it  as 
freely  as  if  it  had  been  their  own.  He  likewise  expressed  himself 
with  great  respect  always  of  the  queen,  but  there  were  some  of 
the  baser  sort  of  his  fleet  who  spoke  very  unbecoming  things  of 
her  in  discourse  with  the  Javans. 


538  JAVA 

"  The  English  Disturbed  by  the  Court.  The  twenty  fifth 
of  April  Thomas  Morgan  their  second  factor  died,  who  had  been 
sickly  a  long  time,  Mr.  Starkey  also  began  to  grow  very  weak. 
The  twenty  eighth  the  pinnace  returned  from  Banda  having  lost 
one  of  her  factors  Wilham  Chase,  and  the  rest  were  but  weak  and 
sickly.  About  this  time  some  of  the  king's  officers  came  to  forbid 
them  to  go  forward  with  their  house,  probably  because  the  new 
protector  had  not  as  yet  received  a  present.  The  Shah  Bandar 
and  he  being  at  that  time  at  varience  they  complained  to  Kay 
Tomongone  Gobay,  the  admiral  ;  who  indeed  was  the  father 
of  all  strangers  in  that  place.  He  presently  made  a  great  feast 
and  inviting  all  the  principal  persons  of  the  court  took  an  oppor- 
tmiity  to  talk  of  this  affair  to  the  Enghsh,  telling  them  what  a 
shame  it  was,  that  the  king  and  they  should  not  keep  their  words 
to  the  general  and  merchants,  and  that  rather  than  he  would 
break  his  word,  he  would  go  and  dwell  in  a  small  cottage  himself, 
and  let  them  have  his  house.  After  much  ado  he  brought  them 
to  consent,  that  they  should  go  forward  with  their  house,  which 
in  a  short  time  after,  was  finished. 

"  Their  principal  merchant  fearing  pepper  would  be  dear, 
by  reason  of  the  Flemish  ships  that  were  there  or  daily  expected, 
bought  up  as  much  as  he  could,  and  because  the  house  was  not 
yet  ready  he  dispursed  his  money  before  the  goods  were  weighed. 
Now  the  Flemmings  not  being  curious  about  their  pepper  when 
the  Enghsh  came  to  take  theirs,  they  were  forced  to  receive  it  as 
the  others  did  or  else  they  should  have  had  neither  money  nor 
pepper  so  that  they  had  in  that  parcel  much  sour  and  bad  pepper. 

"  On  the  last  of  June  Mr.  Starkey  ended  his  days  whose  burial 
General  Warwick  caused  to  be  honoured  with  a  company  of 
shot  and  pikes  the  colours  being  trailed  according  to  the  order 
of  soldiers'  burial. 

"  The  Town  Fired  Twice.  The  fourth  of  July,  the  great 
market  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  was  set  on  fire  by  villainy  of 
certain  Javans,  in  order  to  get  some  spoil  out  of  the  Chinese 
effects.  By  this  also  the  English  were  losers,  some  Chinese  who 
were  indebted  to  them  having  lost  all  that  they  were  M'orth  in 
the  world.  The  seventeenth,  Thomas  Dobson  one  of  the  factors 
for  Banda,  died  ;  the  twenty  seventh,  the  town  was  burnt  again 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 

"  The  Protector's  Threats.  The  fifth  of  August,  at  ten 
o'clock  at  night,  there  came  to  the  Enghsh  house,  Captain  Spil- 


THE   TOWNS    IX   JAVA,    ETC.  539 

berg,  Captain  John  Powlson,  and  some  other  Dutch  captains, 
who  told  them  they  had  been  that  day  with  the  protector  about 
some  business  and  that  he  asked  them,  if  they  would  take  the 
parts  of  the  EngUsh,  in  case  he  should  do  them  any  violence  ? 
to  which  they  answered  that  the  EngHsh  and  they  were  near 
neighbours,  and  therefore  they  could  not  see  them  wronged  ; 
but  yet  had  he  strictly  charged  them  not  to  be  offended  with  him, 
or  aid  them,  whatsoever  way  he  proceeded  with  them.  Hereupon 
IVIr.  Scot  went  presently  to  the  protector  and  gave  him  a  small 
present  and  also  thanks  for  his  men,  whom,  four  or  five  days 
before,  he  had  sent  to  help  the  Enghsh  in  their  building.  He 
received  the  present  but  his  countenance  showed  he  was  angry  ; 
he  told  Scot  that  he  was  then  going  about  business  to  the  king, 
but  would  send  for  him  next  morning  ;  for  that  he  wanted  to 
speak  to  him.  The  same  day  the  admiral  sent  his  son  to  him, 
to  know  what  his  meaning  was  to  use  such  threatning  speeches 
against  the  English,  but  he  denied  them. 

"  Next  morning  he  sent  for  Scot,  and  asked  him  who  had 
informed  him,  that  he  designed  to  hurt  the  Enghsh  ?  Upon  his 
answering  the  Hollanders,  he  asked  whether  they  were  slaves  or 
captains  ?  And  being  told  they  were  captains,  he  bad  Scot 
shew  his  Scrivano  those  captains.  He  added  that  if  any  Javana 
or  Chinese  had  done  it,  he  would  have  sent  for  him,  and  cut  his 
throat  before  the  Enghsh,  Then  he  began  to  find  fault  with 
them,  because  they  did  not  come  to  him  when  they  had  any  suit 
to  make,  but  went  to  the  Shah  Bandar  or  the  admiral.  ]\Ir.  Scot 
by  way  of  apology,  answered  that  he  was  but  newly  come  into 
this  place  and  that  the  Enghsh  as  yet  were  not  acquainted  with 
him,  but  that  for  the  future  he  would  apply  to  his  honour  ;  then 
he  promised  to  befriend  them  all  in  his  power,  but  it  was  pure 
dissimulation  only  to  borrow  money  from  them.  About  this 
time  the  Flemmings  spread  a  rumour  through  their  own  fleet, 
that  the  king  would  force  the  English  to  lend  him  five  thousand 
rials  of  eight,  or  cause  their  house  to  be  plucked  down  again, 
but  that  report  was  false,  for  neither  the  king  nor  the  protector 
had  at  that  time  sent  to  them  for  any,  nor  did  in  four  months 
after. 

"Danger  from  Fire.  The  seventeenth  of  August,  Captain 
Spilberg  having  sold  all  his  commodities  (which  he  shared  in  the 
Enghsh  prize)  and  laden  his  ships  and  pinnace  with  pepper, 
departed  thence  with  two  ships  more  of  Warwick's  fleet  in  his 


540  JAVA 

company.  The  nineteenth  of  August,  having  brought  out 
certain  packs  of  goods  to  air,  a  Javan  who  was  a  slave  to  one  of 
the  principals  of  the  country,  threw  some  fire-works  upon  a 
thatched  house,  a  little  to  windward  of  the  factory  ;  the  English 
espying  it,  pursued,  took  him  and  carried  him  before  Kay  Tomon- 
gone  the  admiral  who  put  him  in  irons.  Within  an  hour  after, 
there  came  several  of  his  comrades  who  would  have  taken  him 
away  by  force  ;  hereupon  the  admiral's  men  and  they  fell  together 
by  the  ears,  and  many  were  hurt  on  both  sides.  The  admiral, 
so  soon  as  his  men  had  beaten  the  others  off,  sent  him  to  the  king, 
but  because  his  master  was  one  of  the  king's  favourites,  he  was 
not  put  to  death,  although  by  the  law  of  the  country  he  should  have 
died,  nor  did  the  English  greatly  seek  it,  because  his  master  was 
their  friend  also.  It  may  farther  be  observed  that  the  Javans 
are  so  wicked  and  bloody  a  people  that  although  they  commit 
crimes,  they  take  the  punishment  as  injuries  never  to  be  put  up, 
but  by  the  death  of  their  masters  ;  so  that  if  any  slave  offend, 
he  is  either  quite  forgiven,  or  else  put  to  death.  But  then  they 
are  very  obedient  and  seldom  offend  their  masters,  because  they 
are  for  the  most  part  as  wicked  as  themselves. 

"  Insults  from  the  Javans.  The  twenty  second  of  August 
at  night  certain  Javans  having  gotten  into  a  great  yard  hard  by 
the  English  quarters,  while  they  were  singing  a  psalm  (which 
was  their  custom  when  they  set  their  watch)  threw  stones  at  the 
windows  as  if  they  would  have  beaten  down  the  house,  some  of 
which  coming  in,  very  narrowly  missed  them.  However  they 
took  some  of  the  rogues  whom  yet  upon  submission  they  spared. 

"  Disorders  of  the  Dutch.  About  this  time  a  quarrel 
arising  between  the  Flemmings  and  the  Chinese,  some  were  hurt 
and  slain  on  both  sides.  This  was  owing  to  the  misbehaviour 
of  the  Flemmings  ;  who  in  that  place  carry  themselves  very 
rude  and  disorderly,  to  such  a  degree  that  they  are  a  scandal  to 
the  name  of  Christians.  This  is  to  be  understood  only  of  the 
vulgar  sort  over  whom  when  they  are  ashore  and  in  drink  their 
officers  have  no  command.  They  came  off  with  the  worst 
however  at  last  ;  not  that  they  were  chastised  by  the  Chinese, 
or  vanquished  by  the  manliood  of  the  Javans,  but  some  who  were 
slaves  to  certain  turncoat  Chinese,  would  steal  behind  the  Flem- 
mings in  the  evening  and  stab  them  unawares. 

"  They  come  off  with  the  Worst.  One  day  being  very 
clamourous  about  one  of  their  men,  who  was  slain,  the  protector 


M»  t 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  .541 

asked  them  whether  when  they  came  to  any  country  to  trade, 
they  brought  laws  with  them  or  whether  they  were  governed  by 
the  laws  of  the  country  they  were  in  ?  To  which  they  answered 
that  when  they  were  aboard  their  ships,  they  were  governed  by 
their  own  laws,  but  when  they  were  ashore  they  were  subject  to 
the  laws  of  the  country  they  were  in.  '  Well,'  said  the  protector, 
*  I  will  tell  you  the  law  of  the  country  which  is  this.  If  one  kill 
a  slave,  they  must  pay  twenty  rials  of  eight,  if  a  freeman,  fifty, 
and  if  a  gentleman,  a  hundred.'  The  Flemmings  requested  to 
have  that  under  his  own  hand,  which  was  granted,  and  this  was 
all  the  amends  they  had  for  their  man  being  killed,  yet  if  they 
would  have  taken  fifty  rials  of  eight  they  might  have  had  it. 

"  Lampoxs  AssASsms.  About  the  fifth  of  September  there 
arrived  a  junk  full  of  men  from  the  island  of  Lampon,  in  the 
streights  of  Sunda  ;  the  natives  are  sworn  enemies  to  all  who 
inhabit  Bantam,  as  well  as  the  Javans,  from  whom  however  they 
are  not  to  be  distinguished,  many  Javans  hkewise  associate  with 
them.  These  Lampons  being  in  all  respects,  so  like  the  Javans, 
would  boldly  come  into  the  town  not  only  in  the  evenings  and 
nights,  but  even  at  noon  day,  and  entering  peoples  houses,  cut 
off  their  heads  ;  so  that  for  a  month  the  Enghsh  could  take  Uttle 
rest  for  the  lamentations  of  the  people.  One  day  while  they  were 
sitting  at  dimier  these  villauis  came  and  took  a  woman  who  hved 
in  the  next  house  to  theirs  ;  and  mussling  her  so  with  a  sack, 
that  she  could  not  cry  out,  carried  her  into  a  tuft  of  bushes  in 
the  backside  belonging  to  the  factory,  and  there  cut  her  throat 
but  had  no  time  to  cut  off  her  head,  for  her  husband  missing  her, 
looked  out  and  seeing  them  carry  her  away  cried  aloud.  The 
Enghsh  hearing  the  noise,  rose  from  dinner  and  pursued  them  ; 
but  it  was  too  late  to  save  her  life. 

"  Not  easily  taken.  They  were  so  swift,  that  there  was  no 
coming  up  with  them  and  for  any  tiling  the  people  of  the  factory 
knew,  they  might  be  amongst  those,  who  gathered  on  the  occasion, 
for  it  was  thought  by  some,  that  they  lay  hid  in  the  bushes  till 
the  Javans  came  up,  and  then  stealing  out  mixed  with  them. 
There  were  some  Java  women,  who  cut  off  their  husband's  heads 
in  the  night,  and  sold  them  to  the  Lampons.  They  hankered 
much  about  the  house,  and  I\Ir.  Scot  beheves  that  if  they  had  not 
kept  good  watch,  they  would  have  attempted  to  cut  their  throats 
if  not  for  their  heads,  yet  for  their  goods.  But  after  awhile 
many  of  them  being  known,  were  taken  and  executed.     They 


542  JAVA 

were  men  of  very  goodly  stature.  Their  reason  for  undertaking 
these  desperate  adventures  is,  that  the  King  gives  them  a  woman 
for  every  stranger's  head  they  bring  him,  wherefore  they  would 
often  dig  up  such  as  were  new  buried,  and  so  impose  upon  their 
king. 

"  Designs  of  the  Javans  Defeated.  At  this  time  some 
persons  of  note,  who  wished  well  to  the  English,  of  whom  the 
admiral  was  one,  advised  them  to  be  constantly  on  their  guard  ; 
for  that  some  of  the  principal  men  of  the  land  for  birth,  though 
not  for  wealth  or  office,  who  had  many  slaves,  and  but  little  to 
maintain  them,  had  laid  a  plot  to  murder  them  in  the  night,  in 
order  to  plunder  their  goods  (which  they  took  to  be  ten  times 
more  than  they  were)  and  after  to  have  given  out,  that  the 
Lampons  had  done  it.  Whereupon  they  were  forced  to  keep 
lights  burning  all  night  round  their  house  for  otherwise  being 
so  black,  they  might  have  come  upon  them  in  the  dark 
before  they  were  aware  ;  for  all  the  upper  work  of  their  houses, 
by  reason  of  the  heat  was  open.  They  were  also  built  with 
canes  ;  the  fence  round  them  being  of  the  same  materials,  was 
but  a  weak  building,  which  might  have  been  easily  beaten  down. 
The  conspirators  came  two  or  three  times,  thinking  to  have 
executed  their  bloody  design  ;  but  as  soon  as  they  came  within 
sight  of  their  Hghts,  and  heard  the  drum  beat  at  the  end  of  every 
watch,  their  hearts  failed  them  ;  concluding  the  Enghsh  were 
prepared  to  receive  them  with  their  muskets  and  blunderbusses, 
as  in  reality  they  were. 

"  The  Pltjndee,  of  Chinese.  Having  thus  long  waited  for 
an  opportunity  without  ever  findmg  one,  they  at  length  fell  out 
among  themselves  and  so  were  dispersed.  Divers  others  made 
bold  attempts,  but  miscarrying  hkewise,  they  next  fell  to  work 
with  the  Chinese  ;  whose  houses  at  this  time  were  full  of  English 
goods,  which  they  had  bought  from  the  factors  ;  insomuch  that 
every  night,  for  a  long  time,  they  heard  grievous  outcries,  and 
expected  every  hour  to  have  been  assaulted,  so  that  they  durst 
not  sleep.  Many  of  their  Chinese  neighbours  were  slain,  and 
many  more  would  have  suffered  if  they  had  not  defended  them 
with  their  shot,  but  the  whizzing  of  a  bullet  is  as  terrible  to  a 
Javan,  as  the  cry  of  hounds  is  to  a  hare  ;  for  they  cannot  stand 
the  report  of  a  gun.  These  continual  alarms,  and  grievous 
outcries  of  men,  women,  and  children,  had  such  an  effect  at  last 
upon  the  Enghsh,  that  they  would  often  dream  of  pursuing  the 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  543 

Javans  ;  and  suddenly  leaping  out  of  their  beds,  lay  hold  of  their 
weapons  ;  one  man  hearing  the  noise  his  next  fellow  made,  would 
start  up  likewise  ;  and  thus  scuffling  together  in  their  sleep, 
have  wounded  one  another,  before  those  on  the  watch  could 
come  to  part  them.  This  mischief  might  have  been  in  good 
measure  prevented,  by  laying  their  arms  farther  from  them,  but 
then  they  would  not  have  been  ready  in  case  of  an  attack, 
which  they  looked  for  every  moment.  Their  number  being  but 
few  Mr.  Scot  took  his  turn  to  watch  like  the  rest,  in  which  post 
he  often  stood  more  in  fear  of  his  own  men,  than  the  Javans, 
and  whenever  he  heard  them  bustling  together,  he  used  to  catch 
up  a  target,  for  fear  they  should  fall  upon  him. 

"  On  the  Author.  But  all  their  fear  on  this  account  was 
nothing  in  comparison  of  that  which  arose  from  the  apprehension 
of  fire.  O  this  word  Fire  !  (says  the  Author)  had  it  been  spoken 
near  me,  either  in  English,  Mallayan,  Javanese  or  Chinese  ; 
although  I  had  been  found  asleep,  yet  I  should  have  leaped  out 
of  my  bed,  as  I  have  sometimes  done,  when  our  men  on  the  watch 
have  but  whispered  one  to  another  of  fire  ;  insomuch  that  I 
was  forced  to  warn  them,  not  to  mention  fire  in  the  night,  except 
they  had  extraordinary  occasion. 

"  And  the  other  Factors.  Not  only  ]\Ir.  Scot  himself  but 
the  other  factors,  Thomas  Tudd,  and  Gabriel  Towerson,  after 
their  watches  had  been  out,  and  they  were  fallen  so  fast  asleep 
that  the  beating  of  a  drum  at  their  chamber  doors  could  not 
awaken  them  ;  yet  presently  after,  when  they  have  but  whispered 
the  word  fire,  they  have  all  started  up,  and  ran  out  of  their  rooms. 
These  panics  however  may  be  excused  when  it  is  considered  that 
then  they  were  strangers  ;  but  in  two  or  three  years,  they  got 
several  friends  there,  and  the  people  were  become  more  orderly, 
and  the  government  growing  better,  as  the  young  king  advanced 
in  age.  In  three  months  space,  the  town  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river  was  burnt  five  times,  but  the  wind  always  favoured  the 
English,  and  although  the  Javans  often  fired  it  on  their  side, 
yet  as  there  blew  but  little  wind  the  flames  were  quenched  before 
they  reached  them. 

"  Dutch  Pass  for  English.  About  the  same  juncture,  great 
disputes  arose  between  the  natives  and  the  Flemmings  on  account 
of  the  rude  behaviour  of  the  latter  many  of  whom  were  stabbed 
in  the  evenings.  At  that  time  the  common  people  knew  not  the 
Enghsh  from  the  others,  for  both  went  by  the  name  of  English- 


544  JAVA 

men,  the  Dutch  having  assumed  it  at  their  first  coming  thither 
to  trade,  much  to  the  injury  of  the  true  owners,  for  as  they  passed 
along  the  street,  they  could  hear  the  people  in  the  market 
exclaiming  against  the  EngHsh,  although  they  meant  the 
Hollanders  ;  wherefore  fearmg  some  of  their  men  might  be  slain 
instead  of  them,  they  began  to  think  how  to  make  themselves 
distinguished  from  the  Flemmings. 

"  Method  taken.  The  seventeenth  of  November  drawing 
near  which  they  kept  as  coronation-day  (for  neither  then  nor  the 
year  following  they  knew  nothing  to  the  contrary)  they  put  on 
new  suits  of  silks  and  wore  scarfs  of  white  and  red  taffata  ; 
they  also  made  a  flag  with  a  red  cross  in  the  middle  ;  and  because 
the  merchants  would  be  known  from  their  servants  they  edged 
their  scarfs  with  deep  gold  fringe.  The  day  being  come,  they 
set  up  the  banner  of  St.  George  on  the  top  of  their  house  ;  and 
marched  up  and  down  within  their  own  ground  with  drums  and 
muskets.  Being  but  fourteen  in  number  they  could  march  but 
single  one  after  another  and  so  shot  off  their  pieces  casting 
themselves  in  rings  and  esses.  The  Shah  Bandar  and  several 
other  prime  officers  hearing  the  fire,  came  to  see  and  to  enquire 
into  the  cause  of  their  rejoicing  ;  they  were  told  that  being  the 
day  on  which  their  Queen  was  crowned  seven  and  forty  years 
before,  all  Englishmen  in  what  country  soever  they  were,  observed 
it  with  marks  of  honour.  The  Shah  Bandar  greatly  commended 
them  for  having  their  prince  in  remembrance  at  such  a  distance. 

"  Undeceive  the  Javans.  Many  asked  them  why  the 
Enf^hshmen  at  the  other  house  did  not  express  the  same  zeal  ? 
Being  answered  that  they  were  not  Enghshmen  but  Hollanders  ; 
and  their  country  was  not  governed  by  a  king  ;  some  rephed  that 
they  called  themselves  Enghshmen  at  first,  and  therefore  they 
took  them  to  be  such.  Those  of  the  factory  told  them,  that 
thev  were  of  another  country  near  England,  and  spake  another 
language  ;  and  that  if  they  talked  with  them,  they  should  find 
they  were  of  a  different  nation.  The  multitude  admired  to  see 
so  many  discharges  made  by  such  a  small  number  of  men  for  the 
Javans  and  Chinese  are  no  good  shot.  In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Scot 
caused  his  men  to  walk  about  the  town  and  the  market  for  the 
people  to  take  notice  of  them.  On  this  occasion  their  red  and 
white  scarfs  and  hatbands  made  such  a  shew,  that  the  inhabitants 
of  those  parts  had  never  seen  the  like  before,  so  that  ever  after 
they  were  known  from  the  Hollanders,  and  often  the  children 


THE    TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  545 

in  the  streets  would  run  after  them,  crying  '  Oran  Engrees  bagh, 
oran  Hollanda  jahad,'  that  is,  the  EngHshmen  are  good,  the 
Hollanders  are  naught.  General  Warwick  went  for  Patania,  and 
from  thence  to  China. 

'"  Carak  taken  by  the  Dutch.  The  sixth  of  December,  there 
came  in  two  ships  which  six  months  before  he  had  sent  tliither. 
At  the  island  of  Makau  they  fomid  a  Carak  at  anchor,  laden  with 
raw  silks,  musk  and  divers  other  rich  wares,  ready  to  depart. 
Most  of  her  men  happening  to  be  on  shore,  they  took  her  with 
little  or  no  resistance.  Having  laden  their  two  ships,  they 
set  the  rest  on  fire,  so  that  by  their  own  report,  twice  as  much 
was  burnt  as  they  brought  away.  On  their  voyage  back  they 
met  with  a  great  junk  of  Siam  which  they  fought  with  and  took, 
killing  three  score  and  four  men.  Some  of  their  own  also  were 
slain  and  hurt,  but  when  they  found  she  belonged  to  Siam,  they 
let  her  go  again  ;  because  they  either  had  sent,  or  shortly  intended 
to  send  factors  there.  The  captain  of  the  junk  was  slain,  who 
when  hailed  (as  they  alledged)  would  not  tell  them  whence  he 
was,  and  when  they  bad  him  strike,  answered  that  he  would  not 
do  it  for  any  ship  that  ever  sailed  the  ocean.  The  Flemmings 
not  knowing  what  musk  was,  sold  a  great  quantity  of  it  to  certain 
Japanese,  whom  they  met  with  at  sea,  for  little  or  nothing. 

"  Adventure  of  a  Dutch  Ship.  They  stayed  about  forty 
days  in  Bantam,  in  which  time  the  sailors  had  squandered  all 
their  pillage,  which  was  very  great.  On  the  seventeenth  of 
January  they  departed,  with  two  more  in  company.  One  had 
landed  at  Bantam,  the  other  came  from  China  two  months  before, 
and  had  been  four  years  from  home  ;  of  which  time  they  had  spent 
fourteen  months  in  Cochinchina,  where  at  their  arrival,  they  were 
betrayed.  Their  captains  being  taken  prisoners,  were  made  to 
kneel  on  their  knees  four  and  twenty  hours,  with  their  necks  bare, 
and  one  standing  over  them  with  a  sword  ready  to  strike  ofE  their 
heads,  when  the  order  should  be  given.  The  Cochinchma  would 
not  beheve  but  they  were  spies,  and  men  of  war,  instead  of 
merchants.  These  Dutchmen  happening  to  be  papists,  the 
Portugueze  friers  at  length  saved  their  hves  ;  and  afterwards 
they  were  kindly  used,  but  their  ransom  cost  them  dear. 

"  The  Protector  Sends  to  Borrow  Money.  About  this 
time  the  protector  sent  to  the  Author  several  times  to  lend  him 
two  thousand  pieces  of  eight,  and  if  he  could  not  spare  so  much, 
one  thousand  ;  but  Mr.  Scot  put  him  off,  telling  him  they  were 

J. VOL.  I.  N  N 


546  JAVA 

left  there  with  goods,  but  no  money,  that  the  inhabitants  owed 
them  much,  which  they  could  not  get  in  ;  and  that  as  yet  they 
had  bought  but  Httle  pepper,  towards  the  stock  that  was  to  be 
provided  against  the  arrival  of  their  ships.  The  Flemming  who 
came  in  so  rich  from  Makau,  had  so  bribed  him,  that  now  he  began 
to  hearken  to  his  notion  for  building  a  handsome  house. 

"  Effects  of  Pepper.  The  sixth  of  February  the  lost  Robert 
WalHs,  and  many  more  of  the  men  were  sick  and  lame  ;  which 
was  owing  to  the  heat  of  the  pepper  in  milhng  and  shooting 
it,  so  that  for  the  future  they  were  forced  to  hire  Chinese  to  do 
that  work,  under  the  inspection  of  their  servants.  The  sixteenth 
there  came  in  a  great  ship  of  Zeilan  from  Pattany.  Five  or  six 
days  before  her  arrival,  she  sent  in  a  small  sloop  or  pinnace  ; 
ordering  their  factors  to  buy  up  all  the  pepper  they  could,  which 
made  the  EngHsh  imagine,  that  General  Warwick  with  his  whole 
fleet  was  coming  to  land  there  ;  they  bought  up  all  that  they 
found  to  be  good  and  merchantable,  for  the  Chinese  spoiled 
abundance,  by  mixing  water  and  dirt  with  it,  because  the  Flem- 
mings  refused  none.  This  is  certain,  that  the  Chinese  bought 
one  of  another  and  sold  to  the  Flemmings  again,  at  the  same  price 
they  bought,  and  yet  gained  ten  rials  of  eight  in  a  hundred  sacks, 
by  increasing  as  above  mentioned  ;  for  was  it  ever  so  bad  they 
knew  their  chapmen,  and  let  the  wind  blow  which  way  it  would, 
they  had  shipping  to  come  thither  either  from  the  East  or  from 
the  West,  insomuch  that  one  would  have  thought  they  intended 
to  carry  away  the  pepper  growing  on  the  trees,  mountains  and 
all.  The  Javans  hearing,  that  the  country  inhabited  by  the 
English  was  cold,  asked  them  if  they  beat  the  pepper  in  a  mortar 
with  which  they  plaistered  the  walls  of  their  houses,  to  make  them 
warm.  This  ship  had  taken  a  great  deal  of  rich  plmider,  but  they 
swore  to  the  Enghsh  they  had  with  them,  and  charged  them, 
on  pain  of  losing  their  wages,  not  to  discover  anything,  which 
their  countrymen  took  very  unkindly. 

"  The  Flemmings  at  this  time  had  three  houses  on  account 
of  different  merchants  and  each  bought  up  as  much  pepper  as 
could  be  gotten.  The  fifth  of  March,  the  protector  sent,  in  the 
king's  name,  to  borrow  a  thousand  rials  of  eight  of  ]\Ir.  Scot, 
who  to  prevent  their  falhng  out  with  him,  which  the  Flemmings 
would  have  been  glad  of,  lent  them  five  hundred. 

"  About  this  time  there  came  in  a  junk  from  Jore,  aboard  which 
were  certain    Flemmings,    who    stole   away  with  their  goods ; 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  547 

because  Jore  had  been  for  a  long  time  very  straitly  besieged  by 
the  Portugueze  of  Malalika,  who  (as  they  said)  offered  the  king 
peace,  on  condition  he  would  dehver  up  or  kill  the  Flemmings 
who  were  in  the  city  ;  to  which  he  answered  that  he  would  sooner 
lose  his  kingdom.  The  beginning  of  this  month  there  were  two 
great  fires  on  the  other  side  of  the  water,  which  did  much  mischief  ; 
but  the  wind  still  favoured  the  English. 

"  Dutch  Officer  Slai^.  The  year  1604  affords  Httle  else  to 
speak  of  but  murder,  theft,  wars,  fire  and  treason.  To  begin  with 
a  tragedy.  The  English  had  in  their  house  a  Mulatto  of  Pegu, 
brought  by  their  ships  from  Achin,  and  m  the  great  ship  that 
came  lately  from  Pattania  there  was  one  of  his  countrymen,  who 
on  Sunday  the  eighth  of  April  having  gotten  a  bottle  of  wine, 
brought  it  ashore  to  make  merry  with  the  other.  Walking 
abroad  in  the  afternoon,  they  met  with  the  provost  of  the  ship, 
who  bid  the  Mulatto  get  him  aboard.  The  fellow  answered 
he  would  not  go  yet  ;  whereupon  the  provost  struck  him.  The 
companion  seeing  his  countryman  misused,  and  being  somewhat 
elevated  with  a  liquor  which  he  seldom  used  to  drink,  resolved 
to  revenge  his  quarrel.  He  presently  returned  home,  and  as 
soon  as  it  was  evening  took  a  rapier  and  a  target,  and  with  his 
krise  at  his  back,  went  forth.  There  being  at  that  time  much 
dissension  between  the  Javans  and  Flemmings,  jVIr.  Scot  had 
charged  his  men,  that  whenever  they  went  out  in  the  evening 
about  any  business,  they  should  take  their  weapons  with  them, 
for  fear  any  Javans,  who  did  not  know  them,  should  do  them  a 
mischief  in  the  dark.  The  rest  thinking  the  cook  had  sent  the 
peguan  to  market  for  herbs,  or  the  Uke,  mistrusted  nothing. 
There  went  out  with  him  also  a  slave  of  the  Shah  Bandar  who  was 
bom  and  brought  up  among  the  Spaniards  at  the  Manillas.  In 
short,  meeting  the  provost  and  the  other  Mulatto  together,  he 
began  a  quarrel  and  presently  drawing  his  krise  stabbed  him. 
Then  fearing  his  countryman  would  discover  the  murder,  stabbed 
him  also,  and  would  even  have  slain  the  slave  who  went  with 
him,  had  he  not  got  away,  by  rimning  through  a  ditch.  After 
this  meeting  with  a  poor  Javan,  he  stabbed  him  likewise. 

"  Murderer  Executed.  When  a  Javan  of  any  account  is 
put  to  death,  although  there  be  a  common  executioner,  yet  the 
nearest  of  kin  does  the  office  ;  and  this  is  held  the  greatest  favour 
they  can  do  them.  The  protector  would  have  twenty  rials  of 
eight  for  the  Javan  who  was  slain  and  the  Hollanders  the  Ufe 

N  N  2 


548  JAVA 

of  the  murderer.  Accordingly  they  came  with  a  guard  of  shot 
the  sixteenth  of  April  to  see  his  execution  ;  which  was  performed 
with  the  quickest  dispatch. 

"  Deaths  op  Englishmen.  The  same  evening  their  vice 
admiral  with  another  ship  in  company,  set  sail  for  Holland.  The 
fourteenth  Thomas  Tudd,  before-mentioned  who  had  been  long 
sick,  departed  this  life  ;  so  that  of  seven  factors  left  for  this 
place  and  Banda,  there  were  now  but  two  hving.  The  Enghsh 
had  lost  in  all  since  the  departure  of  their  ships,  eight  men, 
besides  the  Mulatto  who  was  executed  ;  there  remaining  now  but 
ten  men  and  one  boy.  The  twentieth,  died  Jasper  Gensberg  who 
was  admiral  of  the  two  ships  that  were  betrayed  at  Cochinchina. 
"  State  of  Trade.  The  two  and  twentieth  of  April,  there 
arrived  a  great  junk  from  China,  which  was  thought  to  be  cast 
away,  because  she  stayed  so  late,  for  they  usually  come  in 
February  and  March  ;  but  her  coming  made  cashis  very  cheap 
all  the  years.  This  was  a  great  hinderance  to  the  Enghsh,  in 
the  sale  of  their  price  goods  ;  for  when  cashis  were  cheap,  and 
rials  dear,  they  could  not  sell  a  piece  of  stuff  for  half  the  value 
they  could  at  first ;  besides  the  Chinese  had  sent  all  the  rials 
they  could  procure  for  China  ;  so  that  the  factory  was  forced  to 
give  them  credit  or  else  must  have  lost  the  principal  time  of  the 
year  for  their  sales.  As  for  pepper  the  Flemmings  had  left  none, 
but  what  was  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Scot,  and  the  Shah  Bandar 
who  would  not  sell  for  any  reasonable  price.  Moreover,  their 
goods  began  to  grow  old,  and  the  colours  to  fade  ;  for  the  ware- 
houses in  that  place  are  so  hot  and  moist,  that  how  much  soever 
pains  is  taken  in  airing  and  turning  the  wares,  yet  they  will  spoil 
any  sort  of  cloth  that  Hes  long  in  them. 

"  Attempts  of  the  Chinese.  A  Chinese  who  turned  Javan, 
was  next  neighbour  to  the  factory.  He  kept  a  victualhng  house, 
and  brewed  arrack  (a  kind  of  hot  hquor  used  in  most  of  these  parts 
of  the  world  instead  of  wine)  ;  he  had  two  outhouses  where  his 
guests  used  to  sit,  in  one  of  them  which  joined  to  the  pales  on 
the  south  side  of  the  factory,  he  used  to  brew.  But  now  he  set 
up  another  trade  and  became  an  engineer,  having  gotten  eight 
firebrands  of  Hell  more,  to  assist  him  only  in  the  work  of  setting 
the  Enghsh  house  on  fire.  These  nine  dug  a  well  in  one  of  the 
victualler's  houses  from  the  bottom  of  which  they  carried  a  mine 
quite  under  the  foundation  of  the  factory.  But  before  they 
could  make  this  mine,  they  were  forced  to  dig  a  very  deep  well 


THE    TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  549 

in  their  yard  to  drain  off  the  water  and  to  prevent  suspicion 
planted  tobacco,  and  other  herbs,  near  the  well  which  they  watered 
every  day.  The  English  could  hear  them  boiUng  of  water  daily 
but  because  they  were  brewers  and  had  many  tubs  to  wash  and 
to  fill,  they  had  no  mistrust. 

"  To  Rob  the  Factory.  When  they  came  to  the  planks  of 
the  warehouse,  they  durst  not  cut  them,  for  some  of  the  factory 
were  continually  walking  over  them  both  night  and  day.  After 
they  had  waited  two  months,  without  finding  an  opportunity  to 
cut  the  boards,  they  began  to  contrive  some  other  method  of 
breaking  through  them  ;  but  they  went  the  wrong  way  to  work, 
for  if  they  had  continued  their  mine  till  they  had  gotten  but  cross 
the  warehouse,  they  had  found  thirty  thousand  rials  of  eight, 
buried  in  jars,  for  fear  of  fire.  Besides  that  room  was  not 
boarded  at  all  ;  so  that  they  might  have  come  into  the  warehouse 
without  any  difficulty  and  had  what  they  sought  for.  Well, 
one  of  these  wicked  instruments  being  a  smith,  and  brought  up 
always  to  work  with  fire,  told  his  associates,  that  he  would  take 
out  the  planks  so  that  the  Enghsh  should  neither  hear  nor  see 
him.  Accordingly  on  the  twenty  eighth  of  May,  about  ten  at 
night  they  put  a  candle,  and  burnt  a  round  hole  through  the 
boards.  So  soon  as  the  fire  had  vent,  it  caught  hold  of  the  mats 
that  covered  the  packs  and  presently  spread. 

"  They  Set  Fire  to  it.  All  this  while  the  English  had  no 
suspicion  nor  could  perceive  anything,  by  reason  of  the  closeness 
of  the  warehouse,  for  all  the  windows  were  plaistered  up,  for  fear 
of  the  fire  overhead.  The  first  watch  being  out,  on  which  Mr.  Scot 
himself  was,  and  the  second  set,  they  smelt  a  strong  funk  of  fire, 
which  was  by  that  time  much  increased  ;  but  could  not  find 
where  it  was,  although  they  searched  every  room  and  corner. 
At  length  one  remembered  a  rat  hole  behind  his  trunk  ;  where 
going  to  examine  he  could  plainly  perceive  the  smoke  issuing 
out.  Upon  this  discovery,  he  hastened  into  Mr.  Scot's  chamber 
and  called  out,  that  the  cloth  warehouse  was  on  fire.  That 
piercing  word,  fire,  was  enough  to  awaken  the  factor,  although 
he  was  fast  asleep.  He  presently  started  up,  sHpped  on  his 
cloaths  in  a  trice  and  running  down,  opened  the  doors,  out  of 
which  there  rushed  such  a  violent  smoak,  that  it  had  almost 
choked  them.  For  want  of  vent  it  was  so  thick,  that  they  could 
not  perceive  where  the  fire  came  from  ;  and  at  that  time  there 
were  two  great  jars  of  powder  in  the  warehouse,  which  put  them 


550  JAVA 

in  great  fear  of  being  blown  up  ;  yet  setting  fear  aside,  they 
plucked  the  things  off  the  jars  which  felt  very  hot,  and  removed 
them  into  the  yard. 

"It  is  Stopped  with  Difficulty.  After  this  they  went 
boldly  to  search  for  the  fire  ;  the  thickness  of  the  smoke  having 
put  out  their  candles,  they  tied  twelve  great  wax  tapers  together 
which  kept  lighted.  Then  they  plucked  out  packs  as  fast  as 
they  could  ;  but  being  almost  stifled  with  the  heat  and  smoke, 
and  so  few,  they  could  do  but  little  good,  therefore  they  let  in  the 
Chinese  to  help  them  ;  with  whom  those  who  had  done  the 
mischief  came,  hoping  to  get  some  plunder.  When  Mr.  Scot  saw, 
that  these  damned  Chinois  (as  he  calls  them)  did  them  rather 
harm  than  good,  he  was  almost  in  despair,  and  having  had  in 
his  chest  above  stairs,  a  thousand  pound  in  gold,  which  he  received 
of  General  Hymskerke,  for  pepper,  he  ran  up  with  a  design  to 
throw  it  into  a  pond  behind  the  house,  but  when  he  was  at  the 
chamber  door  his  mind  changed  and  he  went  down  again  to  try 
once  more  what  might  be  done.  As  he  passed  through  the  hall, 
he  chanced  to  cast  his  eye  into  the  dining  room,  which  was  right 
over  the  place  where  the  fire  was  ;  and  there  he  perceived 
Chinois  (among  whom  their  unkind  neighbour,  the  principal 
actor  was  one)  who  had  removed  the  table  and  were  breaking  up 
the  bricks  of  the  ceihng.  He  bad  them  give  over,  and  get  down. 
But  they  would  do  neither  till  he  was  forced  to  drive  them  down 
before  him.  He  then  desired  some  merchants  they  dealt  with, 
who  were  standing  by,  to  urge  the  rest  of  the  Chinese  to  help  out 
packs,  whereof  sixteen  were  in  a  flame.  Thus  by  their  help 
the  fire  was  quenched,  which  they  perceiving,  would  work  no 
more.  Next  day  they  were  paid  for  their  labour,  besides  what 
they  stole. 

"  A  Discovery  Made.  The  English  wondered  much  how  this 
fire  should  happen  suspecting  the  Portugueze  had  hired  Maiayes 
to  kindle  it  ;  but  in  the  morning  a  Chinese  bricklayer,  who 
wrought  at  the  Dutch  house,  told  a  Flemming  that  some  of  his 
own  nation  were  the  authors,  and  that  they  were  since  fled  ; 
but  that  if  the  room  was  well  searched,  it  might  be  discovered 
in  what  manner  the  thing  was  done.  The  Dutchman  told  an 
English  surgeon  what  he  had  heard,  and  desired  him  to  go  and 
tell  the  factors,  saying,  that  as  he  could  speak  the  language  he 
would  go  himself  and  inquire  after  the  fugitives.  The  surgeon 
coming  to  Mr.  Scot  and  desiring  he  might  see  the  room  where 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  551 

the  fire  was,  the  other  called  for  a  candle  and  shewed  him.  Going 
to  one  corner,  he  found  a  little  round  hole,  which  was  burned 
through  the  floor.  Down  the  author  thrust  a  long  stick,  but 
could  feel  no  ground.  Then  calling  for  an  axe,  they  wrenched 
up  the  planks  as  softly  as  they  could  and  underneath  found  a 
passage  large  enough  to  hold  the  greatest  pack  or  chest  in  the 
house.  Upon  this  discovery,  Mr.  Scot  called  three  of  his  men, 
and  went  with  them  armed,  as  secretly  as  he  could,  to  the  house 
from  whence  the  mine  came  ;  leaving  one  at  the  door,  with  a 
charge  to  let  none  go  out.  He  went  in  himself  with  the  other 
two,  where  in  one  room  he  found  three  men  and  in  another  two 
more,  who  forthwith  fled  out  at  the  back  door,  which  he  knew 
not  of  before.  Those  three  they  brought  away  after  giving  them 
two  or  three  knocks.  One  was  a  lodger  in  the  house,  but  the  other 
two  they  could  prove  nothing  against.  Mr.  Scot  having  laid  them 
fast  in  irons,  sent  Mr.  Towrson  to  the  protector  to  inform  him 
how  the  case  stood,  and  desire  that  the  offenders  might  be  sought 
for,  and  having  justice  done  upon  them,  which  he  promised  should 
be  done,  but  was  very  slack  in  performance. 

"  One  Confesses  the  Fact.  The  Dutch  merchants  hearing 
they  had  taken  some,  and  apprehending  the  Chinese  would  rise 
against  them,  came  very  kindly  with  their  weapons  and  sware 
they  would  hve  and  die  in  their  quarrel.  After  they  had  laid 
out  those  goods,  which  had  received  some  water,  to  air,  they 
examined  the  party  who  dwelt  in  the  next  house  ;  he  told  them 
the  names  of  six,  who  were  fled  ;  but  said,  he  knew  not  where, 
and  would  not  own  that  he  was  concerned  with  them,  he  likewise 
said  the  other  two  were  innocent.  But  threatening  him  with  a 
hot  iron,  he  confessed  the  whole,  and  that  he  was  an  accomplice  ; 
he  said  those  two  out-houses  were  built  for  that  very  purpose 
although  they  put  them  to  other  use,  to  take  off  suspicion  ;  and 
that  the  mine  had  been  made  two  months  before  ;  in  which  time 
they  had  been  often  very  busy  in  it,  striving  to  get  into  the  house 
but  could  not.  After  this  they  tortured  him,  because  as  soon  as 
they  had  laid  down  the  iron,  he  denied  all  again  ;  but  being 
tortured  made  a  second  confession.  Next  morning  Scot  sent 
him  to  execution.  As  he  went  out  of  the  factory,  the  Javans 
(who  rejoice  when  they  see  a  Chinese  go  to  suffer,  as  the  Chinese 
do,  when  it  is  the  Javans  case)  reviled  him  ;  but  he  would  reply, 
the  English  were  rich  and  the  Chinese  poor  ;  therefore,  why  should 
not  they  steal  from  them  if  they  could. 


552  JAVA 

"  Prodigious  Cruel.  Next  day  the  admiral  took  another  of 
the  gang,  and  sent  him  to  the  factor.  He  was  found  hidden  in 
a  privy  ;  and  this  was  he  who  fired  the  house.  He  was  a  gold- 
smith by  trade,  and  confessed  to  the  admiral,  that  he  had  chpped 
many  ryals  and  also  coined  others.  Some  things  he  confessed 
to  him,  concerning  what  he  was  charged  with,  although  not 
much,  but  he  would  tell  the  Enghsh  nothing.  Because  of  his 
suUenness  and  that  he  was  a  principal  offender,  Scot  ordered 
sharp  hot  irons  to  be  thrust  under  the  nails  of  his  thumbs,  fingers 
and  toes,  and  the  nails  wrenched  off  ;  yet  he  never  flinched  all 
the  while,  which  made  them  think  that  his  hands  and  legs  were 
numbed  with  tying,  wherefore  they  burned  him  in  the  hands,  arms, 
shoulders  and  neck  ;  but  it  was  all  the  same  with  him.  Then 
they  burned  him  quite  through  the  hands,  and  with  iron  rasps 
tore  out  the  flesh  and  sinews.  After  that  (says  the  Author) 
I  caused  them  to  knock  the  edges  of  his  shinbones  with  hot 
searing  irons,  then  I  caused  cold  iron  screws  to  be  screwed  into 
the  bones  of  his  arms,  and  suddenly  snatched  off  ;  after  that  all 
the  bones  of  his  fingers  and  toes  to  be  broken  with  pincers  ;  yet 
for  all  this  he  never  so  much  as  shed  a  tear,  nor  once  turned  his 
head  aside,  or  stirred  either  hand  or  foot ;  but  when  we  demanded 
any  question,  he  would  put  his  tongue  between  his  teeth  and 
strike  his  chin  upon  his  knees  to  bite  it  off. 

"  Another  Execution.  When  all  the  cruelty  that  could  be 
used  was  to  no  purpose  the  factor  caused  him  to  be  put  in  irons 
again  ;  where  the  emmets  or  ants  which  greatly  abound  there, 
got  into  his  wounds,  and  tormented  him  worse  than  the  Enghsh 
had  done,  as  might  be  discovered  by  his  cresture.  The  king's 
officers  desired  of  Scot,  that  he  might  be  shot,  he  told  them  that 
was  too  good  a  death  for  such  a  villain,  adding  that  in  his  country 
none  but  a  gentleman,  or  soldier  who  committed  a  capital  crime, 
was  shot,  and  then  was  befriended,  but  in  Java  it  is  looked  upon 
to  be  the  most  cruel  and  ignominious  death  that  is.  However 
they  being  very  importunate,  in  the  evening  those  of  the  factory 
led  him  into  the  fields,  and  binduig  him  to  a  stake,  the  first  ball 
carried  away  a  piece  of  his  arm,  bone  and  all ;  they  next  struck 
him  through  the  breast  up  near  the  shoulder,  then  holding  down 
his  head,  he  looked  upon  the  woimd.  The  third  shot  was  made 
with  a  bullet  cut  in  three  parts,  which  hitting  him  on  the  breast 
triangle  wise,  he  fell  down  as  low  as  the  stake  would  permit. 
After  which   between  them   and  the  Elemmings  he  was   shot 


THE    TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  553 

almost  to  pieces  before  they  left  him.  On  this  occasion  the  admiral 
and  Shah  Bandar  sent  them  a  guard  of  men  every  night  for  fear 
the  Chinese  should  rise  against  them,  but  although  they  were 
in  no  fear,  yet  they  kept  four  of  their  men  to  be  witnesses,  that  in 
case  of  such  a  rising  they  should  do  nothing  but  what  was  purely 
in  their  own  defence. 

"  Names  of  the  Incendiaries.  By  a  bribe  Scot  got  hold  of 
Boyboy,  another  of  them  who  confessed  his  associates,  viz., 
Uniete  the  chief  ;  Sawman  his  partner  (who  dwelt  in  the  house 
with  him)  ;  Hinting,  Omigpayo,  Hewsamkow,  Utee  (who  was 
shortly  after  crised  for  lying  with  a  woman),  Irrow  and  Sakkow  ; 
these  were  fled  to  Jakkatra  the  two  last  of  which  he  had  never 
heard  of  before.  He  used  all  the  means  in  his  power  to  get  them 
into  his  hands,  but  could  not  succeed,  without  being  at  excessive 
charges.  There  were  others  also,  who  taking  shelter  in  the  houses 
of  some  considerable  Javans,  could  not  be  come  at.  However 
some  were  offered  to  sale  by  their  patrons,  and  the  English  beat 
the  price  as  one  would  do  about  an  ox  or  a  calf  ;  but  they 
held  them  so  dear,  that  Scot  durst  not  deal  with  them.  He 
proffered  as  much  for  each  as  would  purchase  another  slave  in 
his  room,  and  put  something  in  their  purses  besides  ;  but  the 
criminals  were  such  fit  instruments  for  their  purposes  as  being 
practised  in  all  kinds  of  villany  that  they  would  not  part  with 
them  under  a  great  sum.  For  (the  Author  says)  all  the  Javans 
and  Chinese  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  are  great  villains 
and  have  not  one  spark  of  virtue  in  them  ;  and  that  if  it  was 
not  for  the  Shah  Bandar  the  admiral  and  one  or  two  more,  who 
were  natives  of  Clyn,  there  would  have  been  no  Hving  for  a  Chris- 
tian amongst  them,  without  a  fort,  or  very  strong  houses  of  brick 
or  stone.  Boyboy  above  mentioned  they  tortured  not,  because 
of  his  confession,  but  crised  (or  stabbed)  him. 

"  Mandelikko's  IVIalice.  Sometime  after  a  relation  of  the 
king's  called  Pangran  man  Delike,  a  mere  limb  of  the  devil,  who 
kept  one  of  those  nine  villains  in  his  house,  coming  to  the  factory 
to  buy  cloth,  they  desired  he  would  dehver  the  fellow  into  their 
hands,  telhng  him,  their  general  should  give  him  thanks  ;  and 
representing  how  much  it  would  conduce  to  the  good  of  the 
country,  to  root  out  such  villains.  His  answer  was  that  they 
should  tell  those  so,  vv^ho  had  the  good  of  the  country  at  heart, 
for  that  he  had  not.  Three  or  four  days  after,  he  came  again, 
and  was  very  earnest  with  Scot,  to  give  him  credit  for  six  or  seven 


554  JAVA 

hundred  ryals  of  eight  in  cloth  ;  but  because  he  was  not  to  be 
trusted,  the  factor  excused  the  matter  :  under  pretence  of 
expecting  the  ships  every  day,  and  that  he  could  dehver  no  goods, 
without  pepper  for  loading.  When  he  saw  he  could  not  prevail, 
he  went  out  very  angry  and  at  the  gate,  looking  back  upon  the 
house,  said  it  was  pity  but  it  should  be  burnt  again. 

"  Discovered  by  a  Chinese.  This  same  person  tampered 
with  a  Chinese  who  had  some  deaUngs  with  the  Enghsh,  to  help 
him  to  some  of  his  nation,  dwelling  near  the  factory,  to  undertake 
firing  it  again  ;  but  having  been  generally  hated  for  all  his 
cruelties,  the  Chinese  told  them  what  he  said.  Scot  upon  this, 
would  have  presently  gone  to  court  to  complain  of  him,  but  many 
advised  him  against  it,  sajdng  that  he  was  a  desperate  villain 
and  cared  neither  for  king  nor  protector  ;  so  that  if  they  exposed 
him,  he  would  do  them  a  mischief,  whatsoever  came  of  it ;  Scot 
was  sensible  of  this  ;  for  though  both  the  king  and  governor  had 
sent  to  him  often,  to  dehver  to  the  EngHsh  the  fellow  he  harboured, 
yet  he  never  regarded  them.  Shortly  after,  many  attempts  were 
made  to  burn  their  house  ;  for  the  town  was  fired  in  three  places 
at  the  same  time,  in  one  night,  a  httle  to  windward  of  it,  and 
twice  another  night. 

"  A  Merry  Accident.  Now  to  season  these  melancholy 
stories  with  a  diverting  one.  During  this  interval  it  happened 
that  a  Chinese  who  dwelt  close  to  the  factory,  stole  away  the  wife 
of  another  ;  and  being  hardly  pursued  by  her  husband,  knew 
not  how  to  conceal  her,  but  by  lifting  her  over  the  pales  :  the 
English  having  newly  shot  much  pepper  into  their  warehouses  it 
was  at  that  time  so  extremely  hot,  that  they  were  forced  to  keep 
the  door  open  continually  day  and  night.  This  being  a  fit  place 
for  her  to  hide  in,  she  got  within  the  door  as  far  as  she  could  for 
the  heat,  and  there  was  no  danger  of  her  husband  coming  there 
to  look  for  her.  After  the  watch  was  set  one  of  the  company 
returning  from  the  yard,  which  they  often  visited  both  day  and 
night,  saw  the  woman  (it  being  a  little  starhght)  standing  at  the 
pepper-house  door,  she  having  come  forth  to  take  breath  ;  for 
she  had  better  have  been  in  a  hot  bath  so  long.  He  presently 
cried  out,  a  woman,  upon  which  Scot  running  down  in  haste, 
caused  her  to  be  searched  and  examined.  Her  defence  was,  that 
her  husband  would  have  beaten  her  ;  and  that  therefore  she  was 
forced  to  chmb  over  their  pales,  to  hide  herself.  It  is  usual  for 
the  Chinese  to  beat  their  wives,  especially  if  they  be  of  another 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  555 

countrj^,  and  this  woman  was  a  Cochin  Chinese,  who  had  no 
friends  in  Bantam  ;  for  the  Javans  will  rarely  suffer  them  to 
beat  their  women.  Wherefore  jVIt.  Scot  having  searched  and 
secured  every  place,  concluded  this  matter  would  prove  some  such 
jest.  Accordingly  next  morning  her  husband  came  and  falling 
down  on  his  marrow-bones,  desired  he  would  be  good  to  him  ;  for 
having  so  lately  tortured  some  Chinese  (says  Scot)  he  imagined 
I  would  torture  him  also,  but  on  my  conscience  he  needed  no 
more  plague  or  punishment  than  such  a  wife,  wherefore  I  presently 
dismissed  them  both. 

"  They  Enlarge  their  Factory.  The  ninth  of  September 
the  protector  sent  out  a  proclamation  that  no  Chinese  should 
weigh  any  pepper  to  the  strangers,  meaning  the  EngHsh  and  the 
Hollanders  ;  which  last  had  procured  it.  The  same  day  they 
dined  with  the  Enghsh  and  told  them,  that  the  protector  owed 
them  ten  thousand  sacks  of  pepper  ;  Scot  replied  that  was  not 
so,  for  they  would  never  be  such  fools  to  trust  him  so  much. 
Next  morning  he  went  to  the  old  woman  who  commands  the 
protector  and  all  the  rest ;  and  indeed  is  called  the  queen  of  the 
land,  by  the  Shah  Bandar,  and  divers  others  ;  although  she  is 
not  of  the  royal  blood  ;  but  on  account  of  her  wisdom,  is  held  in 
such  esteem  by  people  of  all  ranks,  that  she  rules  as  if  she  were 
absolute  queen  of  the  country.  As  soon  as  the  Enghsh  had 
acquainted  her  with  the  grievance,  she  sent  for  the  protector 
desiring  them  to  talk  with  him  before  her.  WTien  he  came,  Scot 
asked,  for  what  reason  he  had  forbidden  them  to  trade  ?  His 
answer  was  that  he  must  buy  ten  thousand  sacks  of  pepper  for 
the  king  ;  the  factor  rephed,  that  the  Elemmings  themselves 
had  told  him,  that  the  pepper  was  for  them,  and  that  he  owed 
them  so  many  sacks.  The  statesman  had  recourse  to  several 
evasions,  but  the  queen  their  constant  friend,  said  she  should 
not  hurt  them.  For  the  Hollanders  when  they  saw  they  could 
not  get  the  people  to  trade  for  pepper,  bribed  the  protector  to  act 
as  he  did,  and  if  the  Enghsh  had  but  been  masters  of  ten  thousand 
ryals  of  eight,  more  than  they  were,  the  Flemmings  should  have 
procured  little  pepper  that  year  in  Bantam. 

"  Their  Early  Power  by  Sea.  It  is  most  certain,  they  are 
much  hated  there  ;  and  whatever  is  done  in  their  favour  is  for 
fear  of  their  shipping,  which  is  very  numerous  all  over  those 
parts.  The  twelfth  of  September,  the  protector  sent  ryals  up 
and  down  in  the  king's  name,  amongst  the  dealers  in  pepper 


556  JAVA 

requiring  some  to  furnish  an  hundred  sacks,  some  fifty,  some  ten, 
some  five,  as  if  he  was  begging  ;  and  indeed  he  took  it  up  at 
the  king's  price,  which  was  half  a  ryal  in  a  sack  less  than  the 
Enghsh  paid.  The  Chinese,  with  much  grudging,  served  him. 
A  while  after  he  set  a  tax  upon  them,  to  serve  him  with  so  much 
more.  Upon  this  they  railed  both  at  him,  and  the  Hollanders. 
Many  of  them  would  not  receive  their  money,  but  the  officers 
would  throw  it  down  in  their  houses,  and  take  their  names. 

"  The  Factory  Fired  again.  The  fifteenth  of  September  by 
means  of  an  old  trot  who  was  making  candles,  the  town  was  set 
on  fire  ;  by  which  all  the  upper  work  of  the  three  houses  of  the 
English  was  burned  and  the  whole  greatly  endangered.  The 
Shah  Bandar  came  to  them  in  the  tumult,  and  the  admiral  (who 
had  charge  of  the  court,  in  the  absence  of  king  or  governors,  then 
on  a  progress)  sent  them  a  great  train  of  his  principal  men. 
One  of  the  king's  uncles  and  the  rich  Chinese  came  to  them  like- 
wise with  a  great  number.  All  these  came  to  see  that  no  body 
offered  them  any  violence  ;  knowing  that  they  had  enemies  of 
great  power,  on  account  of  their  goods,  and  now  lay  exposed  to 
them  all ;  for  their  fence  was  almost  burned  to  the  ground,  so 
that  they  had  not  a  place  to  dress  their  victials  in.  Yet  by 
good  luck  they  had  a  httle  shed  in  the  middle  of  their  yard, 
which  was  their  court  of  guard  that  escaped  where  they  encamped 
by  night.  The  Dutch  house  escaped  though  but  narrowly  ; 
wherefore  the  Enghsh  borrowed  some  of  their  men.  For  it  is 
to  be  noted  that  though  they  were  mortal  enemies  in  point  of 
trade,  yet  in  all  other  matters  they  were  friends,  and  would  have 
lived  and  died  one  for  the  other.  Also  the  admiral  and  Shah 
Bandar  sent  them  men  every  night,  so  that  with  their  drum, 
shot  and  pikes,  they  lived  a  soldiers'  hfe,  till  their  fence  was  made 
up,  and  afterwards  too  ;  for  they  looked  every  hour  when  it 
should  be  burnt  down  again,  or  beat  down  by  those  who  wanted 
to  have  the  cutting  of  their  throats. 

"  Mandelikko's  Rapeste.  The  Pangran  Mandelikko,  before 
mentioned,  in  the  end  of  September  fell  to  robbing  junks,  one 
of  which  was  of  Jore,  laden  with  rice,  men  and  women.  Being 
assisted  with  a  great  crew  of  villains,  his  slaves  he  seized  on  the 
junli  in  the  night,  and  carried  away  all  the  rice,  with  the  men  and 
women,  as  his  prisoners.  This  was  the  sure  way  to  starve  the 
town,  by  banishing  the  junks,  which  used  to  furnish  it  with 
provisions,  the  country  not  being  able  to  supply  one  quarter  of 


THE   TOWNS    IN  JAVA,   ETC.  557 

the  inhabitants.  The  king  and  his  protector,  sent  to  command 
him  to  deUver  the  people  and  goods  which  he  had  taken  ;  but 
he  refused,  and  presently  fortified  himself.  He  was  supported 
by  the  rest  of  the  Pangrans,  who  were  the  king's  relations  as  well 
as  his  ;  yet  being  all  traitors  the  king's  officers  durst  not  meddle 
with  him.  The  protector  Shah  Bandar,  and  admiral,  sent  to 
them  to  be  upon  their  guard.  The  rebels  grew  every  day  stronger, 
so  that  both  Javans  and  strangers  began  to  be  in  great  fear. 
Scot  borrowed  some  small  ordnance  of  the  Chinese  merchants 
his  friends  and  fortified  the  factory  with  chains  and  bushes. 
He  caused  also  a  great  quantity  of  chain,  langral  and  crossbar 
shot  to  be  made.  A  stop  was  put  to  all  trade  at  this  time,  nobody 
minding  either  to  buy  or  sell  anything.  Every  day  the  spies 
of  the  rebels  would  come  into  the  yard  of  the  English  factory 
and  be  very  inquisitive  to  know,  what  the  men  were  so  hard  at 
work  upon.  They  plainly  told  them  that  they  looked  every 
night  for  such  a  man's  coming,  and  therefore  made  provision  for 
his  entertainment. 

"  King  of  Jakatra's  Quarrel.  About  the  twentieth  of 
October,  the  King  of  Jakkatra  came  into  Bantam,  with  fifteen 
hundred  fighting  men,  besides  stragglers,  and  had  a  thousand 
more  following  him.  He  challenged  both  the  rebels  and  Pangrans 
to  fight  ;  but  the  former  would  not  venture  out  of  their  fortifica- 
tions. He  had  indeed  a  great  quarrel  against  them  all  ;  for 
but  a  httle  while  before,  they  sought  to  drive  him  out  of  his 
kingdom. 

"  The  six  and  twentieth,  the  King  of  Jakkatra,  and  the  admiral, 
sent  for  the  English,  to  know  if  means  could  not  be  found  to 
fire  them  at  a  distance  out  of  the  reach  of  their  bases,  of  which 
they  had  a  great  number.  Scot  told  them  if  there  had  been  a 
ship  in  the  road,  it  might  easily  have  been  done  ;  but  that  for 
their  parts,  they  wanted  some  of  the  most  necessary  materials 
such  as  camphire,  saltpetre  and  brimstone.  The  admiral  said 
he  would  help  them  to  these  things  ;  and  had  a  long  bow,  and 
arrows  fit  for  such  a  purpose  ;  although  a  musket  had  been 
better. 

"  Mandelikko  Banished.  The  Enghsh  intented  to  have  had 
the  king's  ordnance  planted  to  advantage,  and  shot  red  hot 
bullets,  which  would  have  made  terrible  havock  among  them  and 
their  cane  fortifications.  The  principal  rebel  had  endeavoured 
all  he  could  to  fire  them  ;  now  they  resolved  to  see  if  they  could 


558  JAVA 

not  fire  him .  But  whether  it  was  for  fear  of  the  King  of  Jakkatra 
or  that  thej''  were  apprised  of  the  factor's  design,  the  Pangrans 
and  rebels  came  to  an  agreement  within  two  days  after  ;  which 
was  this,  that  the  principal  rebel  should  within  six  days,  depart 
out  of  the  King  of  Bantam's  dominions,  taking  with  him  only 
thirty  of  his  domestics,  which  he  accordingly  did.  For  ten  days 
together  the  Enghsh  expected  every  hour  both  night  and  day 
that  the  king's  forces  and  the  Pangrans  would  come  to  a  battle  ; 
for  they  were  drawn  up  on  both  sides  ;  but  the  Javans  are  very 
loth  to  fight  if  they  can  avoid  it  ;  the  reason  it  is  said,  is  that 
if  their  slaves  be  killed,  wherein  all  their  wealth  lies,  they  will  be 
beggared. 

"  The  seventeenth  of  November,  which  was  the  coronation 
day,  they  invited  the  Flemmings  to  dinner  ;  in  the  middle  of 
which  they  drank  the  Queen's  health  and  shot  off  all  their 
ordnance  which  had  lain  loaded  ever  since  the  late  trouble. 

' '  English  Adjured  .  There  resort  to  Bantam  people  of  various 
nations,  several  of  which  have  factories  there.  These  foreigners 
having  heard  of  the  Enghsh  in  times  past  long  before  they  ever 
saw  any  of  them,  were  very  curious  to  observe  their  carriage  and 
behaviour.  It  was  the  subject  of  their  admiration  that  being  so 
few,  they  should  yet  render  themselves  so  considerable  ;  never 
putting  up  the  least  injury  that  was  offered  by  either  the  Javans 
or  Chinese  but  always  righting  themselves  ;  and  when  the 
protector  wronged  them,  it  was  well  known  they  did  not  spare  to 
tell  him  of  it  roundly,  and  to  such  purpose  that  he  fell  short  of 
having  his  will.  It  was  no  less  notorious  that  when  at  the  first 
arrival  of  their  ships,  the  Javans  purloined  their  goods  ;  so 
many  as  they  took  were  either  slain,  wounded  or  soundly  beaten 
by  them.  They  thought  the  Enghsh  durst  not  do  so,  when  their 
ships  were  gone,  and  so  made  it  their  practice  to  steal  from  them 
both  by  day  and  night ;  but  they  found  it  all  the  same,  which 
they  wondered  at.  And  I  have  heard,  says  the  Author,  many 
strangers  declare,  who  happened  to  be  present,  when  we  have 
been  beating  some  Javans,  that  they  never  laiew  or  heard  of  any 
nation,  who  were  liegers  there,  but  ours,  that  durst  once  strike  a 
Javan  in  Bantam  ;  and  it  was  a  common  talk  among  strangers 
as  well  as  the  natives,  how  we  stood  at  defiance  with  those  who 
hated  us  for  our  goods,  and  how  little  we  cared  for  them.  Like- 
wise how  we  never  offered  any  wrong  to  the  meanest  in  the  town, 
and  were  generally  beloved  by  aU  the  better  sort,  they  would 


THE   TOWNS    IN    JAVA,    ETC.  559 

say  it  was  not  so  with  the  Flemmings,  nor  with  any  other  nation. 
All  the  while  I  was  there  (continues  he)  I  never  heard  that  ever 
the  Flemmings  gave  a  Javan  so  much  as  a  box  on  the  ear  ;  but 
many  times  have  fallen  foul  on  the  Chinese,  who  will  very  seldom 
make  any  resistance  ;  yet  for  all  this  it  is  certain,  that  they  are 
mortally  hated,  as  well  by  all  sorts  of  Javans  as  the  Chinese. 

"  English  Loved,  Dutch  Hated.  Now  every  day  the 
Hollanders  looked  for  their  shipping,  and  yet  had  but  little 
pepper,  nor  loiew  where  to  buy  any  ;  for  the  Chinese  would  sell 
them  none,  so  long  as  the  English  would  give  as  much  as  they. 
More  than  that,  when  they  had  laid  out  all  their  ryals,  some  of 
those  merchants  sold  them  pepper,  to  be  paid  when  their  ships 
came,  although  they  could  not  tell  themselves  when  they  would 
arrive.  If  they  would  have  gone  to  the  Flemmings,  they  might 
have  had  ready  money,  and  great  thanks.  The  Dutch  therefore 
bought  what  they  could  by  retail  in  the  markets,  sending  it  to  a 
Chinese  house  bj''  boat  in  the  evening  ;  but  the  charge  consumed 
the  gain. 

"  About  this  time  the  Emperor  of  Damak,  who  not  many 
years  before,  for  tyranny  had  been  deposed  by  the  kings  there- 
abouts, going  by  sea  from  Bantam  to  another  town  upon  the 
coast,  was  stabbed  in  bed  by  one  of  his  sons,  when  he  was 
asleep. 

"  Chinese  Fraud.  The  Chinese  would  usually  mix  their 
pepper  in  the  night  if  it  was  left  with  them  ;  or  else  put  in  dust 
or  may  be  remove  to  another  place.  If  the  English  disliked  the 
spice  which  they  saw  at  one  man's  house  to-day  they  would  be 
sure  to  find  the  same  in  another  house  a  good  distance  off 
to-morrow  ;  and  the  night  after  at  a  third  house,  that  they 
might  pass  for  different  parcels,  and  the  warehouse  where  it 
lay  first  should  be  shut,  or  a  quantity  of  better  pepper  lodged 
in  room  of  the  bad. 

"  In  November  and  the  beginning  of  December,  the  English 
were  busied  not  only  in  building  but  also  in  getting  in,  and 
cleaning  pepper.  The  fourteenth  of  December,  they  were  informed 
by  a  Dutch  pinnace  which  arrived,  that  the  Queen  was  dead  and 
that  a  great  plague  and  sickness  had  afflicted  all  Christendom 
(which  more  sensibly  shocked  them,  than  all  their  former  troubles), 
that  the  King  of  Scots  was  crowned  and  that  England  was  in  peace 
within  itself,  and  hkely  to  be  so  with  Spain  in  a  httle  time.  But 
they  could  give  them  no  account  of  their  ships,  nor  of  any  letters 


560  JAVA 

brought  by  the  fleet.  Wherefore  IVIr.  Scot  hasted  aboard  the 
Dutch  admiral  and  found  there  were  letters  in  the  vice  admiral. 

"  The  Chief  Incendiary  Taken.  The  twenty  second  by 
means  of  some  of  the  friends  of  the  Enghsh,  Uniete,  the  chief  of 
the  incendiares  who  had  undermined  their  house,  was  discovered 
and  taken.  He  had  been  long  in  the  mountains  and  for  want  of 
food,  was  forced  to  repair  to  certain  houses  near  the  town,  from 
whence  he  was  brought  to  the  rich  Chinese  house.  So  soon  as 
Scot  heard  of  him,  he  sent  INIr.  Towrson  to  the  protector  to  inform 
him  of  it ;  and  withal  to  let  him  know,  that  the  Enghsh  intended 
shortly  to  execute  him  ;  for  since  the  time  that  this  mischief 
happened,  he  never  went  out  of  sight  of  the  house  but  once,  till 
the  Company's  ships  arrived  ;  and  then  his  fear  was  so  great, 
that  he  thought  all  would  be  burnt  before  he  got  back  again. 
Besides  three  times  every  week  he  used  to  search  all  the  Chinese 
houses  round  about,  for  fear  of  more  undermining. 

"  General  Middleton  Arrives.  The  same  day,  towards 
evening  the  Enghsh  descried  their  ships  coming  into  the  road  ; 
but  their  joy  was  allayed  when  they  saw  the  weak  condition  they 
were  in  ;  especially  as  Bantam  was  not  the  place  to  recover  men 
that  are  sick,  but  rather  to  kill  men  that  come  thither  in  health. 
IVIr.  Scot,  at  his  first  going  aboard  the  admiral  found  the  General 
Captain  Henry  Middleton,  very  sickly  and  weak  ;  to  whom  he 
gave  a  brief  account  of  the  past  troubles,  letting  him  know 
nevertheless  that  he  had  lading  ready  for  two  ships,  which  was 
some  pleasure  to  him,  in  his  grief  for  the  men.  There  were 
scarce  fifty  sound  in  the  four  ships.  Of  the  sick  men  a  number 
died  ;  and  many  of  those  who  arrived  in  health,  never  went  out 
of  the  road. 

"  The  Incendiary  Executed.  The  twenty  fourth  the  Vice 
Admiral  Captain  Coulthurst  came  ashore  with  some  other 
merchants.  The  same  day  they  executed  the  villain  lately  taken. 
This  was  the  fourth  principal  who  had  been  put  to  death,  besides 
him  who  was  killed  for  stealing  a  woman.  At  Scot's  coming  away, 
there  remauied  four  ahve,  of  which  two  were  at  Jakkatra,  another 
with  Mandelikko  the  traitor  and  a  third  with  Kay  Sanapatly 
Dama  whom  they  could  not  as  then  come  at.  The  same  day  the 
vice  admiral  accompanied  with  those  of  the  factory,  and  also 
some  of  the  new-come  merchants,  went  to  court  to  acquaint  the 
kmg,  that  the  general  had  letters  from  the  Kmg  of  England  with 
a  present  for  him  ;   and  that  as  soon  as  he  was  a  little  refreshed, 


THE    TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  561 

being  weary  after  his  long  voyage,  he  would  come  himself  to 
wait  on  him,  and  dehver  the  letters  and  present. 

"  Sunday  the  twenty  third  a  counsel  was  held,  wherein  (for 
reasons  needless  to  mention)  it  was  thought  fittest  to  send  the 
Dragon  and  the  Ascension  to  the  Molukkos  ;  and  that  the  Hector 
and  Susan  should  lade  pepper  and  be  dispatched  home.  The 
remainder  of  the  week  was  employed  in  getting  fresh  victuals, 
herbs,  fruits  and  flowers  for  the  recovering  their  men,  who 
were  most  grievously  afflicted  vnih.  the  scurvy. 

"  The  General  goes  to  Court.  On  Christmas-day  those  of 
the  factory  dined  on  board  the  general,  who  the  thirty  first 
went  on  shore  ;  and  being  accompanied  with  all  the  merchants 
who  were  in  health,  and  divers  others  repaired  to  court  and 
deUvered  the  King's  letter  and  present,  which  were  one  beautiful 
bason  and  ewre,  two  standing  cups,  all  parcelgilt  ;  a  gilt  spoon 
and  six  muskets,  with  their  furniture  ;  these  were  kindly  received. 
The  next  day  or  two,  the  general  spent  in  visiting  the  chief  friends 
of  the  English,  as  the  Shah  Bandar,  the  admiral  and  the  rich 
Chinese,  and  also  made  them  presents,  which  were  received  very 
thankfully.  After  this,  they  fell  to  work  both  ashore  and  aboard, 
to  pack  up  and  take  in  goods  for  the  Molukkos  ;  but  as  soon  as 
the  men  were  a  httle  recovered  of  the  scurvy,  they  were  seized 
with  the  flux  ;  insomuch  that  being  still  weak  in  mariners,  it 
seemed  impossible  with  so  few  hands,  to  be  able  to  accomphsh 
their  business  at  least  in  time.  The  seventh  of  January,  the 
Dutch  fleet  being  nine  tall  ships,  besides  pinnaces  and  sloops  set 
sail  for  Amboyna  and  the  Molukkos  so  that  the  Enghsh  were  a 
long  time  doubtful,  whether  their  ships  (which  could  not  go  away 
sooner,  for  the  reason  just  mentioned)  should  get  any  lading  in 
those  parts  that  year. 

"  The  tenth,  the  ships  that  were  bound  homewards  began  to 
take  in  pepper,  but  were  so  oppressed  with  sickness,  that  they 
could  make  no  dispatch.  The  eighteenth,  those  designed  for 
the  islands  of  Banda,  having  taken  in  all  their  loading,  set  sail, 
their  men  for  the  most  part  extreme  weak  and  sick  ;  how  they 
spent  their  time,  till  their  return  to  Bantam,  the  Author  refers  to 
their  own  account.  Presently  after  their  departure  the  protector 
sent  to  agree  about  custom,  which  they  thought  had  been  settled 
when  their  first  shipping  returned.  But  he  asked  many  new 
duties  ;  and  because  j\Ir.  Scot  would  not  pay  them,  he  commanded 
the  porters  that  they  should  carry  no  pepper.  Wherefore  to 
J. — VOL.  I.  0  0 


562  JAVA 

prevent  this  being  farther  hindrance  to  them  in  loading  their 
ships,  he  was  forced  to  agree  to  pay  down  according  to  the  rate 
the  ships  paid  before,  and  leave  the  rest  unsettled,  till  the  return 
of  the  general ;  in  which  the  protector  would  have  them  beUeve, 
he  did  them  a  great  favour. 

"  Death  of  Officers  and  Men.  The  two  homeward  bound 
ships,  which  they  were  then  lading,  lost  their  masters,  Samuel 
Spencer  of  the  Hector,  and  Habbakuk  Pery  of  the  Susan;  also 
William  Smith,  chief  master's  mate  of  the  Hector,  and  soon  after 
Captain  Styles,  with  many  other  of  their  principal  men,  as  well 
as  of  their  ordinary  sailors,  died  ;  so  that  the  factors  were  con- 
strained not  only  to  hire  men  to  help  them  there  but  hkewise  as 
many  Guzerats  and  Chinese  as  they  could  get  to  bring  home  the 
ships,  which  was  exceeding  chargeable.  With  much  fatigue  they 
had  them  laden  by  the  fifteenth  of  February  but  it  was  the  fourth 
of  March  before  they  could  be  gotten  in  readiness  to  sail.  They 
departed  that  day  for  England  ;  the  Hector  had  on  board  sixty 
three  persons  of  all  sorts,  but  many  of  her  own  men  were  sick  ; 
her  master  was  Wilham  Crane.  The  Susan  (whose  master  was 
Richard  Hacknesse)  had  forty  seven,  many  of  her  Enghshmen 
being  likewise  sick. 

"  Dutch  Ships  Arrive.  The  sixth  of  May  there  arrived  a  ship 
from  Holland  which  on  the  coast  of  Goa,  along  which  she  came, 
met  with  two  more,  bound  for  Kambaya.  These  three  had  taken 
four  Portugueze  ships,  wherein  they  found  great  riches,  only 
one  which  was  laden  with  horses,  they  set  on  fire,  and  consumed 
both  ship  and  cargo.  This  ship  left  Holland  in  June  1604,  but 
they  brought  no  farther  news  than  the  Enghsh  ships  had  done. 
Their  captain  CorneUs  Syverson,  was  a  very  proud  Boor,  and  had 
neither  wit,  manners,  honesty  nor  humanity.  Presently  after 
his  arrival,  the  Flemmings .  withdrew  that  f amiharity,  which 
before  they  held  with  the  English  ;  as  they  judged  by  General 
Warwick's  orders. 

"  Great  Carnival.  The  author  comes  now  to  speak  some- 
what of  the  manner  of  the  King  of  Bantam's  being  circumcised  ; 
and  of  the  public  rejoicings  for  the  space  of  a  month  and  more, 
before  his  going  to  church.  In  preparing  for  this  all  the  better 
sort  of  that  country  had  been  busied  from  the  time  of  the  arrival 
of  the  China  junks,  which  is  in  February  and  March  till  the 
twenty  fourth  of  June  1605.  On  this  occasion  a  great  pageant 
was  erected  on  a  green  before  the  court-gate,  and  railed  about. 


THE    TOWNS    IN    JAVA,    ETC.  563 

On  the  front  of  it  was  a  huge  figure  of  a  devil,  and  on  it  were  set 
three  chairs  of  state  ;  the  middlemost  which  was  for  the  king 
was  placed  highest  by  two  feet  ;  the  other  two  were  for  the  sons 
of  Pangran  Goban,  who  was  to  succeed  in  case  the  king  died 
without  issue. 

"It  is  a  custom  here  for  all  people  of  ability  to  make  every 
new  king  a  present  on  the  day,  either  of  his  accession  or  circum- 
cision. This  must  be  done  in  public,  with  the  greatest  shew  they 
are  able  to  make  ;  and  those  who  cannot  afford  singly  to  do  it, 
join  a  company  of  them  together,  strangers  as  well  as  natives. 
These  shews  began  about  the  twenty  fifth  of  June,  and  continued 
all  that  month  and  the  next  except  on  certain  rainy  days.  The 
protector  began  the  ceremony  ;  the  rest  both  gentle  and  simple 
performed  their  parts  daily  one  after  another  ;  not  according 
to  their  ranks  or  dignity  but  as  each  was  in  readiness,  and  some- 
times two  or  three  companies  in  a  day.  Because  the  Javans 
are  not  good  at  fire-arms,  the  protector  borrowed  shot  both  of 
the  English  and  Flemmings  between  whom  a  strife  arose,  which 
party  should  go  foremost  they  contemning  the  fewness  of  the 
English,  and  the  EngHsh  their  dirtiness.  The  Enghsh  were 
neatly  dressed  with  scarfs  and  coloured  hatbands  ;  the  Flemmings 
went  in  greasy  thrumbed  caps  and  tarred  coats,  with  their  shirts 
hanging  betwixt  their  legs.  The  former  therefore  marched  in 
the  rear,  refusing  to  go  next  after  such  nasty  fellows. 

"  Javan  Discipline.  Every  morning  the  king's  guard  con- 
sisting both  of  shot  and  pikes  were  placed  without  the  rails 
round  the  pageant.  They  were  commonly  about  three  hundred, 
but  on  principal  days,  there  were  upwards  of  six  hundred  drawn 
up  in  files,  according  to  the  English  discipline.  But  in  their 
march  they  differ  ;  for  instead  of  going  three,  five,  seven  or  nine, 
in  a  breast,  they  always  go  one  by  one  following  one  another  as 
close  as  they  can,  with  their  pikes  upright.  As  for  fire-arms  they 
have  not  been  used  to  them.  Their  drums  are  huge  pans  of  a 
metal  called  tambaga,  which  make  a  most  hellish  sound.  They 
have  their  colours,  and  companies  hke  the  English  but  their 
standards  and  ancients  differ  much  ;  their  ancient  staff  is  very 
tall,  and  bends  at  the  top  like  the  end  of  a  bow,  from  whence 
the  colours  which  are  hardly  a  yard  in  breadth,  hang  down  with 
a  long  pendant. 

"  English  and  Dutch  Quarrel.  The  first  day|on  which  the 
shew  was  greatest,  certain  forts  made  of  canes,  and  other  trash,  were 

o  0  2 


564  JAVA 

set  up  before  the  pageant.  These  were  defended  by  some  Javans 
against  other  companies,  which  assaulted  and  often  fired  them  ; 
but  while  the  Javans  were  at  it  in  jest  with  their  pikes,  the  English 
and  Flemmings  were  at  it  in  earnest  with  their  muskets.  The 
protector  perceiving  it,  sent  to  desire  them  to  be  quiet  whereupon 
they  were  quiet  for  that  day.  In  the  evening  Mr.  Scot  asked 
one  of  their  merchants  if  he  thought  Holland  was  then  able  to 
wage  war  with  England,  that  there  should  be  such  strife  between 
their  men  and  his  about  precedence  ?  He  likewise  put  them  in 
mind  that  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  English  they  must  have 
been  the  most  contemptible  nation  in  Europe.  Their  answer  was 
that  times  and  seasons  change  ;  and  without  doubt  most  of 
them  here  think  themselves  able  to  withstand  any  nation  in  the 
world  ;  but  I  can  say  nothing  (says  Scot)  to  the  opinion  of  their 
states  and  the  wiser  sort  at  home. 

"  Order  of  the  Procession.  Every  day  the  king  was  brought 
out  of  his  palace  upon  a  man's  shoulder  bestriding  his  neck  and 
the  man  held  his  legs  before  him.  Many  rich  umbrellas  were 
carried  over  and  about  him.  His  principal  guard  who  marched 
before  him,  were  placed  within  the  rails,  round  the  pageant. 
The  king  was  followed  by  a  number  of  the  principal  men  of  the 
country,  who  in  their  turns  daily  gave  their  attendance  at  court. 
A  while  after  the  king  was  seated  the  shews  came  in  the  following 
order  :  first  a  company  of  musketeers,  led  by  some  gentleman 
slave  ;  next  came  the  pikes,  with  their  colours  and  music  in  the 
midst  of  them.  The  music  consisted  of  ten  or  twelve  tombaga 
pans,  carried  upon  a  coulstaff  between  two  ;  each  was  a  note 
higher  than  another,  and  two  attended  to  play  by  striking  on 
them  with  sticks.  They  had  also  an  inferior  kind  of  music,  which 
went  both  before  and  after.  After  the  pikes,  followed  a  body  of 
targetteers  with  darts,  then  were  brought  in  many  sorts  of  trees, 
with  their  fruit.  These  were  succeeded  by  variety  of  beasts  and 
fowls  both  alive  and  artificial ;  the  latter  were  so  curiously  made, 
that  at  a  distance  they  were  not  to  be  distinguished  from  the 
natural. 

"  The  Players  and  Presents.  After  these  came  several 
men  and  women  attired  like  players  who  danced,  vaulted,  and 
tumbled  before  the  king,  performing  many  surprising  feats  of 
agihty  ;  then  followed  two  or  three  hundred  women  carrying 
presents,  with  an  old  matron  to  every  ten  to  keep  them  in  order. 
These  presents  were  of  rice  and  cashes,  they  were  laid  in  voiders 


THE    TOWNS    IX   JAVA,    ETC.  565 

made  of  split  canes,  curiously  set  out  for  shew  with  painted 
and  gilded  papers,  but  the  present  itself  commonly  was  not 
worth  above  twelve  pence.  Next  came  the  rich  presents  which 
were  commonly  a  fair  tuban  and  some  fairer  cloth  of  their  own 
manufacture  curiously  wrought  and  gilded  or  imbroidered  with 
gold  for  the  king's  own  use  ;  these  also  were  carried  by  women, 
ha^-ing  two  pikes  borne  upright  before  them,  and  every  royal 
present  had  a  rich  umbrella  borne  over  it.  The  procession  was 
closed  by  the  heirs  to  the  parties  who  sent  the  presents  which 
are  their  youngest  sons  if  they  have  any.  They  are  very  richly 
attired  and  adorned  with  jewels  of  gold,  diamonds,  rubies,  and 
other  precious  stones  about  their  arms  and  middles,  they  have 
also  rich  umbrellas  held  over  them,  and  a  number  of  men  and 
women  attending  them.  After  they  have  made  their  obeisance 
to  the  king,  they  sit  down  on  mats  laid  upon  the  ground.  The 
presents  are  all  carried  into  the  court,  where  officers  are  appomted 
to  receive  them. 

"  Javans  Good  Pikemex.  After  all  are  past  by  one  with 
the  pageant  speaks  out  of  the  devil's  mouth,  and  commands 
silence  in  the  king's  name.  Then  the  revels  begin  and  the  music 
strikes  up  ;  and  now  and  then  a  volley  of  shot  is  fired  off.  The 
pikemen  and  targetteers  with  darts  shew  aU  their  feats  of  arms  ; 
these  are  very  expert  at  their  weapons  although  their  musketeers 
be  bad.  When  they  charge  their  enemy,  they  always  advance 
dancing  that  he  might  not  take  aim  to  throw  his  dart,  or  make  a 
thrust.  Amongst  some  of  the  shews  there  were  junks  laden 
with  cashes  and  rice,  which  sailed  by  clock-work.  There  were 
likewise  historical  representations  of  matters  that  had  past  in 
former  times  taken  both  from  the  Old  Testament  and  the 
chronicles  of  Java.  All  the  inventions  above  mentioned,  at  least 
the  major  part  of  them,  were  taught  long  ago  by  the  Chinese 
and  some  they  learned  from  the  Guzurats,  Turks,  and  other 
nations,  which  come  thither  to  trade  ;  for  they  are  but  blockheads 
themselves. 

"  English  Shew  an'd  Present.  The  Enghsh  brought  a  very 
fair  pomegranate  tree  fuU  of  fruit,  both  ripe  and  half  ripe,  some 
young  and  others  m  bud.  They  had  set  it  in  a  frame  (made  of 
ratans,  or  carrick  rushes)  somewhat  like  a  bird's  cage,  but  very 
wide,  with  earth  about  the  root,  and  upon  the  green  turfs  so  that 
it  stood  as  if  it  had  been  stiU  growing.  Upon  the  turfs  they 
put  three  white  rabbits  which  the  vice  admiral  gave  the  Author 


566  JAVA 

and  with  thread  tied  to  the  boughs  several  little  birds  which  were 
continually  chirping.  They  had  hkewise  four  furious  serpents, 
which  the  Chinese  make  very  artificially.  Upon  these  they 
hung  five  pieces  of  cloth,  curiously  wrought  and  gilded  after  their 
fashion  which  were  for  the  king's  use  ;  besides  some  other  pieces 
of  stuff  for  him  to  bestow  upon  his  followers.  To  these  was 
added  a  fine  petronel  and  a  case  of  pistols,  all  demasked  each  in 
a  beautiful  case  with  silk  strings  and  tassels  of  gold.  As  they  had 
no  women  to  carry  these  things,  they  borrowed  thirty  of  the 
prettiest  boys  they  could  get  and  two  tall  Javans  to  bear  pikes 
before  them.  Mr.  Towrson  had  a  very  pretty  Chinese  boy,  whose 
father  a  Httle  before  was  slain  by  thieves.  This  youth  dressed 
as  fine  as  the  king  himself,  they  sent  to  present  the  things  and 
make  a  speech  to  his  majesty  ;  importing  that  if  their  number 
had  been  equal  to  their  wishes  their  shew  would  have  made  a 
far  better  figure. 

"  The  king  and  those  about  him  took  great  dehght  in  the 
conies  as  well  as  in  beholding  some  fire-works  they  carried,  which 
were  matters  of  great  curiosity  to  the  young  king,  and  his  play- 
fellows ;  but  the  women  cried  out  for  fear  the  palace  should  be 
set  on  fire. 

"  Dutch  Present  Insignificant.  The  Flemmings  boasted 
of  their  present,  being  accustomed  to  brag  of  small  matters. 
They  boasted  exceedingly  of  their  king,  meaning  Grave  Maurice, 
whom  they  upon  all  occasions  stile  Raia  Hollanda.  Great  strife 
arose  betwixt  the  English  and  them  ;  the  Flemmings  still  begin- 
ning the  quarrel  in  their  drink  ;  and  after  all  their  gostering 
usually  coming  off  with  the  worst.  But  Mr.  Scot  considering 
the  great  charge  of  goods  which  lay  upon  him,  and  that  the 
Enghsh  who  were  but  thirteen  in  a  straw  house,  had  no  chance 
in  case  the  Dutch  who  were  an  hundred  in  all,  on  shore  and  a 
ship-board,  should  fall  upon  them,  made  it  his  business  to  restrain 
his  men,  though  with  much  ado  he  effected  it. 

"  King  of  Jakkatra  Arrives.  The  eighteenth  of  July,  the 
King  of  Jakkatra  came  to  exhibit  his  shew,  and  make  his  present  ; 
and  at  the  same  time  do  his  homage,  which  was  performed  the 
twenty-third,  in  this  manner.  In  the  morning  early,  the  King 
of  Bantam's  guard  (which  was  on  this  day  a  more  than  ordinary 
number)  were  placed  in  files,  their  pikes  sat  upright  in  the  ground, 
their  muskets  lying  in  order,  and  every  man  sitting  by  his  arms, 
clothed  in  red  coats.     About  eight  o'clock  Mr.  Scot  with  others 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  567 

of  the  factory  went  to  see  this  shew,  and  taking  up  their  standing 
near  the  king's  pageant,  the  officers  of  the  guard  would  often 
bid  them  sit  down.  The  EngHsh  would  answer  they  must  first 
bring  them  a  form  ;  for  indeed  the  people  of  no  nation  is  suffered 
to  stand  in  the  presence  either  of  the  king,  or  any  great  man,  if 
near  them.  The  Dutch  were  as  stiff  as  the  English,  but  for  other 
nations,  the  guard  would  strike  them,  if  they  refused,  although 
the  ground  and  place  where  they  should  sit,  were  never  so  dirty. 
But  the  Javans,  who  cannot  endure  that  any  body  should  stand 
over  them,  would  remove  a  good  distance  from  them  ;  many  of 
the  guard  themselves  forsook  their  weapons,  and  went  and  sat 
elsewhere.  Neither  can  these  people  bear,  that  one  should  lay 
his  hand  on  their  head,  which  is  not  through  any  point  of  rehgion, 
as  some  affirm,  but  merely  out  of  pride.  Many  times  when 
Mr.  Scot  has  gone  into  a  Chinese  house,  where  Javans  have  sat 
on  the  floor,  and  sat  down  on  a  chest,  as  their  manner  was,  they 
have  all  started  up  and  ran  out  of  doors  ;  the  Chinese  would  tell 
them,  that  if  any  other  nation  should  do  so,  but  their  or  the 
Hollanders,  the  Javans  would  stab  them. 

"  Attends  the  Ceremony.  But  to  return.  About  nine 
o'clock  the  king  was  brought  out  in  the  manner  before  mentioned  ; 
two  hours  after  the  King  of  Jakkatra  came  with  a  guard  of  about 
two  hundred.  So  soon  as  he  appeared  in  sight,  the  king's  guards 
all  rose  up,  and  proved  their  weapons,  which  the  English  had 
never  observed  at  any  former  shew.  This  was  done  not  for  fear 
of  any  violence  being  offered  by  the  King  of  Jakkatra,  but  to 
be  ready  to  defend  him  ;  in  case  the  other  petty  kings,  who  had 
great  troops  of  men,  and  were  his  mortal  enemies,  should  rise 
against  him.  When  he  came  near  the  inmost  file  of  the  king's 
guard,  he  found  he  could  not  pass  to  the  pageant,  without  going 
through  a  rank  of  these  petty  kings  ;  wherefore  fearing  the 
cowardly  stab,  which  is  used  among  that  nation,  he  began  to 
look  aghast,  and  much  confounded  although  he  was  as  brave  a 
man  as  any  in  all  those  parts  ;  pass  them  he  would  not,  but  sat 
down  upon  a  leather  laid  upon  the  ground,  which  every  gentleman 
hath  carried  after  him  for  that  purpose.  So  soon  as  he  was 
seated  he  sent  to  the  king,  to  know  if  it  were  his  pleasure  he 
should  come  to  him,  whereupon  the  king  sent  two  of  his  principal 
noblemen  to  conduct  him  to  his  presence  ;  the  King  of  Jakkatra 
having  made  his  obeisance,  the  young  king  embraced  him,  and 
welcomes   him  ;     after   this,    the   former   sat   down   in   a   place 


568  JAVA 

appointed  for  him.  During  this  interval,  some  other  petty  shews 
were  presented. 

"  His  Pageants  and  Presents.  About  twelve  o'clock  came 
the  King  of  Jakkatra's  shew  and  presents.  After  the  three 
hundred  soldiers,  came  the  like  number  of  women  with  cashes, 
and  strange  fowl,  both  ahve  and  artificial ;  also  many  strange 
beasts  ;  amongst  these  was  one  furious  animal,  called  by  them  a 
Machan.  This  creature  is  somewhat  bigger  than  a  Hon,  and  has 
a  stately  gait  when  at  liberty  ;  his  skin  is  full  of  white  and  red 
spots,  intermixed  with  black  streaks,  which  run  down  from  the 
back  quite  under  his  belly.  Mr.  Scot  saw  one  of  them  leap  more 
than  eighteen  feet  at  a  single  bound,  after  his  prey.  They 
destroy  many  people  near  Bantam  ;  and  often  the  king  attended 
by  all  the  country  goes  out  to  hunt  them  ;  sometimes  in  the  night 
as  well  as  the  day.  This  beast  was  inclosed  in  a  great  wooden 
cage,  which  being  placed  upon  trucks  of  old  carriages,  and  drawn 
by  bufEalos,  lay  like  a  traitor  upon  a  hurdle.  In  the  same  manner 
was  brought  up  the  figure  of  a  giant  thirty  feet  high  ;  and  another 
of  a  devil. 

"  Beautiful  Garden.  These  were  followed  by  a  garden,  full 
of  herbs  and  flowers,  and  in  the  middle  was  a  fish-pond,  with 
divers  sorts  of  small  fishes  ;  besides  this  all  sorts  of  fishes  which 
are  known  in  those  parts,  were  brought  in  either  ahve  or  made  by 
art.  While  these  pageants  were  in  procession  they  were  enter- 
tained by  players,  vaulters  and  tumblers,  all  dressed  after  a 
very  odd  and  extravagant  manner.  There  was  drawn  in  likewise, 
a  very  beautiful  bedstead,  and  quilted  bed  ;  also  eleven  boulsters 
and  pillows  of  sill?,  embroided  with  gold  at  the  ends.  The  posts 
of  the  bedstead  were  very  curiously  carved  and  gilded  ;  with  a 
fair  canopy  overhead,  wrought  with  gold.  A  number  of  other 
petty  toys  were  brought  and  presented.  Last  of  all  came  the 
king's  youngest  son,  riding  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  buffalos,  which 
the  Author  thought  very  unseemly.  He  allows  however  that 
they  have  but  few  horses,  which  are  small  nags  ;  and  that  he 
never  saw  any  of  them  put  to  draw,  or  employed  otherwise  than 
to  ride  on,  and  run  at  tilt,  after  the  Barbary  fashion  ;  as  he 
heard  some  Barbary  merchants  say.  This  exercise  they  use  at 
Bantam  every  Saturday  towards  evening  ;  except  in  their  time 
of  Lent,  which  is  a  little  before  ours. 

"  The  King  Circumcised.  Two  days  after  this  carnival  was 
over,  being  Friday  and  their  Sabbath,  the  king  was  carried  on 


THE   TOWNS   IN  JAVA,   ETC.  569 

his  pageant  to  church,  where  he  was  circumcised.  It  was  borne 
up  by  a  great  number  of  men,  but  the  Author  could  not  think 
there  were  four  hundred,  as  the  king's  nurse  told  him  ;  because 
in  his  opmion  so  many  could  not  stand  under  it. 

"  The  General  Returns  from  Ternata.  The  twenty  fourth 
of  July  the  Dragon  returned  from  Ternata.  Mr.  Scot  immediately 
took  a  praw  and  going  aboard,  the  general  gave  him  an  accomit 
of  the  dangers  they  had  run,  and  the  unkuid  dealings  of  the 
Hollanders,  although  he  saved  some  of  their  lives.  Nevertheless 
he  had  (though  with  great  difficulty  and  fatigue)  gotten  a  great 
quantity  of  cloves  towards  his  lading.  The  twenty  eighth  the 
great  Encusen  of  Holland  arrived  from  Ternata  ;  and  the  King 
of  Jakkatra  came  to  see  the  general. 

"  A  Fray  with  the  Dutch.  The  first  of  August,  in  the  after- 
noon, the  general  and  merchants  being  very  busy  in  the  ware- 
house, taking  an  inventory  of  the  remainder  of  prize  and  other 
goods,  two  of  the  men  came  bleeding  in,  having  been  wounded 
by  the  Flemmings.  Hereupon  the  general  commanded  every 
man  to  take  his  weapons  and  to  lay  them  over  the  pates  soundly, 
which  was  presently  performed  ;  finding  no  better  arms  ready, 
he  came  into  the  street  only  with  a  small  cudgel.  The  Flemmings 
were  drubbed  home  to  their  very  gates.  One  was  run  quite 
through  the  body,  yet  some  said  he  did  not  die  of  it,  two  more 
lost  their  arms.  The  Flemish  merchants  applied  to  the  general, 
but  finding  that  their  men  began  the  fray,  they  said  they  had  but 
their  deserts,  and  having  drank  a  cup  of  wine,  kindly  took  leave 
of  him  and  the  merchants. 

"  Who  come  off  Worst.  News  being  presently  carried  to 
court,  how  the  Dutch  and  English  had  quarrelled,  and  that  two 
were  slain,  some  about  the  king  asked  of  which  party  ?  and 
being  told  they  were  Flemmings,  they  said  it  was  no  matter  if 
they  were  all  slain.  In  this  broil  none  of  the  English  were  hurt, 
but  the  two  who  were  wounded  before  the  complaint  came, 
and  that  but  slightly  ;  one  having  a  slash  over  the  hand,  the 
other  a  stab  under  the  side  with  a  knife.  This  was  the  first  time 
they  came  to  blows  ;  but  it  was  not  long  before  they  were  at  it 
pell-mell  again  ;  when  the  Flemmings  sped  no  better  then  they 
did  then. 

"  Ship  News.  The  eleventh  of  August  two  ships  arrived  from 
Kambaya,  which  had  taken  much  rich  plunder  from  the  Portu- 
gueze.     The  same  day  came  in  one  ship  from  Ternata,  and  on 


570  JAVA 

the  sixteenth  the  Ascension  from  Banda.  The  eighth  of  September 
the  Dutch  merchants  invited  the  general  and  all  the  Enghsh 
merchants  and  masters,  to  a  feast ;  where  there  was  great  cheer, 
and  much  friendship  passed  between  them.  The  fifteenth  two 
Dutch  ships  set  sail  for  Holland,  one  a  small  vessel,  which  had 
laden  pepper  at  Bantam,  the  other  was  freighted  with  some 
cloves  taken  in  at  Temata,  and  prize  goods  out  of  the  ships  from 
Kambaya,  The  twenty  first,  the  Dutch  Admiral  from  Banda 
arrived  ;  and  next  day  the  general  sent  some  of  his  merchants 
to  the  Dutch  house  to  bid  him  welcome.  The  same  morning  a 
drunken  Flemming  caused  a  new  fray,  with  the  surgeon  of  the 
factory  ;  and  more  joining  them  on  each  side,  some  of  the  Dutch 
were  wounded. 

"  New  Broils  by  the  Dutch.  Again  about  one  o'clock  as  the 
general  sat  on  a  bench  at  the  gate,  talking  with  a  Portugueze, 
there  came  one  of  their  drunken  swads,  and  sat  down  between 
them.  The  general  offended  at  the  rudeness  of  the  fellow,  gave 
him  a  box  on  the  ear,  and  thrust  him  away.  Presently  several 
of  his  consorts  came  about  the  gate,  vapouring  with  their  knives 
and  sabres.  The  Enghsh  with  sticks  and  the  butt  ends  of  their 
pikes,  drove  them  into  a  rack-house  ;  the  door  being  shut  against 
them  they  broke  it  open  and  knocked  some  of  the  swaggerers 
down,  bringing  them  away  as  prisoners  to  the  general.  So  many 
of  the  riemmings  as  came  by  peaceably,  the  general  caused  to 
go  into  the  yard,  where  they  were  in  safety  ;  and  those  who  would 
not  turn  in,  were  well  drubbed  about  the  head  and  shoulders. 
So  soon  as  this  party  was  defeated,  there  came  another  to  take 
their  parts.  From  sparring  words  they  came  to  blows,  which  the 
Enghsh  laid  on  so  heavy,  that  the  Dutch  were  forced  to  take  to 
their  heels.  Some  of  them  were  knocked  down  in  the  streets, 
and  many  had  their  heads  pitifully  broken  ;  others  were  glad 
to  run  through  a  broad  filthy  ditch  to  get  away,  being  chased  into 
their  houses. 

"  Ordered  to  Kill  the  English.  The  master  of  their 
admiral  had  occasioned  this  fray,  having  gone  from  ship  to  ship, 
to  bid  the  men  go  armed  on  shore,  and  kill  what  English  they  met 
with.  Likewise  when  some  of  the  latter  were  going  aboard  the 
Dutch  ships  about  business,  certain  Englishmen  belonging  to 
their  fleet,  with  weeping  eyes  called  to  them,  to  keep  off  ;  for 
that  strict  order  was  given  to  kill  them,  either  aboard  or  on  shore  ; 
and  desired  them  to  acquaint  the  general  thereof.     The  Flemmings 


THE   TOWNS    IX   JAVA,    ETC.  571 

therefore,  instead  of  having  cause  to  complain,  as  they  alleged, 
had  reason  to  think  they  were  dealt  kindly  •with  since  the  Enghsh 
might  that  day  have  slain  a  great  number  of  them  ;  and  would 
have  done  so,  if  the  general  had  but  given  the  word.  It  was  a 
matter  of  wonder  to  the  people  of  all  nations  at  Bantam,  that 
they  should  dare  to  come  to  blows  with  the  Flemmings,  they 
having  seven  very  large  ships  in  the  road  and  the  Enghsh  but 
two.  Not  one  of  them  received  any  hurt,  excepting  IMr.  Sarys, 
a  merchant  who  had  a  cut  on  the  fore-finger  with  a  sabre. 

"  A  Reconciliation  Made.  At  the  end  of  this  fray,  the 
Dutch  general  came  to  the  English  house,  with  a  large  train  of 
captains,  merchants  and  others  ;  whom  Captain  Middleton  m 
like  manner  accompanied,  met  in  the  street  and  conducted  in. 
After  the  matter  had  been  talked  of  a  httle  the  Dutch  admiral 
approved  of  what  the  English  had  done  ;  and  some  of  the 
captains  saying,  we  complained  but  their  men  bore  away  the 
blows,  the  admiral  answered  it  was  no  matter,  for  he  saw  plainly 
the  fault  was  in  their  men,  and  therefore  would  take  care  for  the 
future,  that  so  many  of  them  should  not  be  on  shore  at  a  time. 
After  much  discourse  they  were  treated  with  sweetmeats  and  then 
took  leave  in  a  very  friendly  mamier,  both  parties  shaking  hands 
together. 

"  Two  Javan  THIE^^:s  Taken.  Certain  Javans,  who  belonged 
to  two  of  the  principal  men  of  that  land,  next  the  king,  having 
stolen  nine  muskets  and  calHvers  out  of  the  gumier  of  the 
Ascension's  room,  shortly  after  two  of  them  came  to  steal  more,  and 
were  taken  in  the  fact.  IVIr.  Scot  was  sent  aboard  by  the  general 
to  examine  and  bring  them  ashore.  The  first  told  him  they 
belonged  to  great  men,  who  were  very  good  friend  of  the  Enghsh, 
but  he  suspected,  bid  them  confess  the  truth,  and  they  should 
find  some  favour  ;  then  they  told  whose  slaves  they  were,  and 
said  the  pieces  were  forthcoming.  Being  brought  ashore,  the 
general  sent  to  acquaint  the  king  and  protector  with  this  matter 
and  desired  he  might  have  his  fi-re-arms  again.  The  protector 
sent  them  to  the  masters  of  the  slaves,  who  setting  more  value 
on  the  guns  than  their  men,  said  they  had  none,  but  what  they 
bought.  Yet  they  sent  to  desire  the  general  to  defer  their 
execution  for  a  day  or  two,  which  was  granted,  but  because 
their  masters  were  somewhat  disaiBEected,  the  protector  in  the 
king's  name  sent  the  executioner  with  a  guard  of  pikes,  to  put 
them  to  death. 


572  JAVA 

"  And  Executed.  When  they  came  to  the  place  of  execution 
the  general  taking  pity  of  them,  would  have  given  them  their 
lives  ;  but  the  hangman  said  their  hves  were  not  in  his  power 
but  the  king's,  who  havmg  ordered  him  to  execute  them  he  would 
do  his  office.  The  two  thieves  very  patiently  suffered,  as  the 
people  of  Java  always  do  ;  for  they  reckon  it  the  greatest  glory 
imaginable  to  die  resolutely,  without  any  shew  of  fear  ;  and  the 
Author,  who  had  seen  several  both  men  and  women  put  to  death, 
assures  us,  that  they  go  to  execution  in  as  careless  or  unconcerned 
a  manner  as  it  is  possible  for  flesh  and  blood  to  do.  One  would 
think  from  hence,  that  these  men  should  be  good  soldiers  ;  but 
it  is  quite  otherwise,  this  valour  appearing  in  them  only  when 
there  is  no  remedy. 

"  Dutch  Factory  Fired.  The  twenty  sixth  of  September  by 
a  Javan  shooting  off  a  gun  the  town  was  set  on  fire.  Many  of 
the  English  seamen  happening  at  that  time  to  be  ashore  their 
house  was  preserved  ;  but  the  Dutch  settlement  being  to  leeward, 
could  not  escape  although  they  should  have  had  ever  so  much 
help.  The  upper  work  of  one  of  their  principal  houses,  contiguous 
to  the  great  one,  was  burnt  with  all  their  outhouses  and  the  goods 
that  were  in  them  ;  as  cables,  hawsers,  pickled  pork  and  divers 
other  things  ;  whereby  they  sustained  great  damage.  Some 
who  had  served  there  five  years,  lost  all  that  they  had  acquired 
in  that  time.  Not  long  after  the  town  was  twice  fired  in  the  night 
by  the  Javans,  on  the  side  the  Enghsh  were  of  ;  which  put  them 
to  great  trouble  in  moving  their  goods  backwards  and  forwards  ; 
but  by  help  of  their  seamen  and  the  Chinese  it  was  quenched. 
The  third  of  October,  the  general  made  a  feast,  which  was  for  his 
farewell,  inviting  the  Dutch  admiral  and  captains,  with  the 
masters  and  merchants,  where  the  whole  passed  with  mii*th  and 
great  friendship. 

"  The  General  Returns  Homewards.  The  fourth  of 
October  the  general  accompanied  by  several  merchants  and 
others  went  to  court  to  take  his  leave  of  the  king  and  his  nobles. 
The  sixth,  about  ten  o'clock  he  went  aboard  calling  by  the  way 
at  the  Dutch  house  to  take  his  leave  of  the  admiral  and  merchants. 
Besides  those  who  were  to  return  for  England  (among  whom  the 
Author,  Mr.  Scot,  was  one)  there  went  aboard  with  him 
Mr.  Towrson  (who  was  to  stay  for  agent  there)  and  other  mer- 
chants ;  some  of  whom  after  dinner  went  ashore  ;  the  rest 
stayed  till  next  day.     About  three  o'clock  they  weighed  anchor, 


THE    TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  573 

and  with  some  ordnance  bid  the  town  and  Dutch  ships  farewell. 
About  eleven  or  twelve  at  night,  they  came  to  anchor  under  an 
island,  where  next  day,  they  took  in  wood  which  the  general 
had  sent  men  before-hand  to  cut  down.  The  seventh  towards 
evening  they  set  sail  again  and  then  Mr.  Towrson  with  some 
others  of  the  merchants  taking  their  leave,  went  ashore  and  the 
ships  continued  their  course  directly  for  England." 

"  Occurrences  at  Bantam  and  other  Parts  of  the  East 
Indies  from  October,  1605,  till  October,  1609  :  With  an 
Account  of  the  Marts  and  Commodities  of  those  Parts." 
(From  the  Journal  kept  by  Captain  John  Saris,  Deputy- 
Governor  and  Governor  of  the  English  Factory  at  Bantam 
from  1605  until  1609.) 

"  The  seventh  of  October,  1605,  the  General  Henry  Middleton 
and  Captain  Christopher  Coulthurst  departed  from  Bantam  road 
for  England.  The  eighth  they  killed  one  of  the  Keygus  Varows 
slaves,  who  attempted  to  fire  their  house. 

"  Junk  Taken  by  Michelborne.  The  twenty  third  here 
arrived  a  junk  of  the  Flemmings  from  Priaman,  by  who  they  had 
intelhgence  of  Sir  Edward  IVIichelborne  and  Captain  Davis,  being 
upon  the  coast,  and  that  they  had  taken  a  Guzerat  junk  in  the 
streights  of  Sunda,  bound  from  Bantam  to  Priaman. 

"  Saris  Examined  thereupon.  The  twenty  fifth  upon  a 
report  which  the  Flemmings  had  made  of  Sir  Edward,  they  were 
sent  for  to  court  where  it  was  demanded  whether  they  knew  him  ? 
And  why  he  should  o£Eer  violence  to  the  king's  friends  who  had 
done  him  no  wrong  ?  It  was  answered  that  they  knew  a  knight 
so  called,  but  that  whether  he  was  upon  the  coast  or  that  the 
Guzerat  ship  was  taken,  they  knew  not  but  by  report  of  the 
Flemmings,  which  they  deemed  to  be  false,  and  that  upon  farther 
inquiry  it  might  prove  rather  to  be  one  of  the  Flemming's  ships 
which  set  sail  two  days  before  the  departure  of  the  said  Guzerat 
from  Bantam,  whereupon  they  were  dismissed  till  farther  proof 
could  be  made. 

"  The  twenty  sixth  Admiral  van  Hangen  of  Utrecht  departed 
for  Holland  with  two  ships  more,  by  whom  the  EngHsh  advised 
the  company  of  all  matters  at  large.  The  twenty  ninth  Sir 
Edward  Michelborne  arriving  at  Bantam.  Mr.  Towrson  and 
the  author  went  aboard  him.     There  he  mentioned  the   taking 


574  JAVA 

of  the  Guzerat,  whereupon  they  begged  him  not  to  meddle  with 
any  more  of  the  Chinese  junks,  and  he  promised  he  would  not. 
The  second  of  November  he  set  sail  for  the  streights  of  Pallingban. 

"  The  thirteenth  there  arrived  a  small  ship  of  the  Flemmings 
from  the  Molukkas  called  the  Little  Sun. 

"  Dutch  Discover  New  Guinea.  The  eighteenth  a  small 
pinnace  of  the  Flemmings  departed  for  the  discovery  of  the 
island  called  Nova  Guinea,  which  was  said  to  yield  great  plenty 
of  gold.     And  the  twenty  fourth  Vansoult  set  sail  for  Koromandel. 

"  The  second  of  December  three  junks  arrived  from  Pattanny 
which  brought  news  of  the  great  loss  the  Flemmings  had  sustained 
by  fire  there. 

"  The  seventeenth  General  Warwick  arrived  from  Pattanny 
where  he  had  taken  a  very  rich  carak  bound  from  Makau,  the 
greatest  part  of  her  lading  raw  silk. 

"  The  second  of  January,  1606,  a  junk  of  this  town  set  sail 
for  Timor,  freighted  by  the  Chinese  for  that  island  with  broad 
plates  of  silver,  beaten  very  thin,  of  a  hand's  bredth,  Enghsh 
iron,  coarse  porcelain,  tafEaties,  china  pans  and  bells. 

"  The  twentieth  there  came  in  a  Chinese  junk,  which  Sir 
Edward  Michelborne  had  rifled  and  restitution  was  demanded 
of  the  factory,  the  governor  and  principal  courtiers  being  very 
much  offended,  but  they  were  pacified  by  the  admiral  and  the 
Shah  Bandar.  The  Nakhada  alledged  that  many  rich  parcels 
were  taken  out  of  her. 

"  The  twenty  third  of  May,  a  small  frigat  of  the  Flemmings 
arrived  from  Ternata  and  brought  away  their  merchants  who 
had  been  left  there  by  Bastianson.  The  Spaniards  stripped  them 
of  all  their  effects  but  gave  the  men  their  liberty.  They  carried 
the  King  of  Ternata  for  the  Manillas  and  (as  it  was  reported) 
intended  to  send  him  for  Spain.  About  ten  leagues  from  Jakkatra 
this  Flemmish  frigat  chanced  to  meet  with  the  Kmg  of  Bantam's 
fleet,  which  pillaged  them  of  all  they  had  saved  from  the  Spaniards. 
The  Flemmings  endeavoured  to  get  restitution,  but  could  obtain 
none  of  the  Javans. 

"  The  twenty  ninth  the  king's  fleet  returned  havmg  done 
very  Uttle  against  their  enemies  the  Pallingbans.  The  fifteenth 
of  June  here  arrived  Nakhada  Tmgall,  a  Ching-man  from  Banda 
in  a  Javan  junk,  laden  with  mace  and  nutmegs  which  he  sold 
here  to  the  Guzerats  for  an  hmidred  and  fifty  ryals  of  eight  the 
Bahar  of  Bantam,  which  is  four  hundred  and  fifty  kattis.     He 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  575 

told  the  Author  that  the  Flemmings'  pinnace,  which  went  upon 
discovery  for  Nova  Guinea,  was  returned  to  Banda,  having  found  the 
island,  but  sending  their  men  ashore  to  desire  trade,  nine  of  them 
were  killed  by  the  natives,  who  are  heathens  and  men-eaters, 
so  that  they  were  constrained  to  return  without  doing  anything. 

"  Eclipse  of  the  Moon.  The  sixth  of  August  the  moon  was 
eclipsed  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  for  two  hours,  the 
Chinese  and  Javanese  beating  mortars  and  pans  all  the  while, 
and  crying  out  the  moon  was  dead,  which  made  a  most  hideous 
noise.  The  fourth  of  October,  the  China  quarter  was  all  burnt 
down,  but  that  of  the  English  was  saved.  The  same  night  the 
carak  of  the  Flemmings  set  sail  for  Holland,  laden  with  fifteen 
thousand  sacks  of  pepper,  some  raw  silk,  and  a  great  quantity 
of  China  sugar.  The  fifth  the  West  Fr island  arrived  from  Ternata, 
whence  she  was  driven  by  the  Spaniards  ;  she  was  not  above  half 
laden  with  mace,  cloves  and  cotton  yarn. 

"  The  ninth  here  arrived  a  small  frigat  from  Sukadanna,  the 
merchant  Claes  Simonson  ;  his  lading  was  wax,  Kaulakka  and 
great  store  of  diamonds.  The  thirteenth  about  midnight  they 
had  an  earthquake  which  continued  not  long,  but  for  the  time  was 
very  dreadful. 

"  The  thirteenth  of  December  two  junks  of  the  Flemmings 
arrived  from  Jor,  by  whom  they  understood  that  there  was  a 
Flemish  fleet  of  eleven  ships  before  Malakka.  The  Orangia, 
admiral,  commanded  by  Matteleeze  the  younger,  Amsterdam, 
vice  admiral,  the  Middleburgh,  Mauritius,  Erasmus,  Great  Sun, 
Little  Sun,  Nassow,  Provincies,  White  Lion  and  the  Black  Lion. 

"  Dutch  Attack  Malakka.  May  the  twenty  second  they  cast 
anchor  before  Malakka  with  nine  ships  only,  for  their  admiral 
had  sent  the  Provincies  and  the  Erasmus  to  Achen.  The  fifth 
of  June  they  landed  their  men,  but  a  httle  before  the  Portugueze 
set  fire  to  one  carak  and  four  junks  that  were  in  the  road.  In 
July  the  Provincies  and  Erasmus  joined  the  rest  of  the  fleet. 
The  twenty  fiith  of  August,  the  vice  roy,  with  great  sixteen 
ships,  was  discovered  by  the  Little  Sun,  that  was  appointed  to 
keep  watch  at  an  island,  called  Cape  Rochado,  which  immediately 
came,  and  the  captain  gave  notice  of  it  to  the  admiral,  who  was 
very  much  unprepared,  his  ordnance  and  men  being  ashore,  but 
the  Portugueze  calling  a  council,  gave  the  Flemmings  twenty  four 
hours  time  to  get  his  men  and  guns  aboard  and  prepare  himself 
before  he  came  to  them.     The  Flemmings  weighed  as  soon  as 


576  JAVA 

they  were  ready,  and  stood  out  of  the  harbour  to  them,  where 
began  a  brisk  engagement,  which  held  two  nights  and  one  day. 
The  Middleburg,  the  Nassow  and  three  Portugueze  ships  were 
burnt.  The  Orangia  having  sprung  a  great  leak,  was  obhged  to 
put  into  Jor  (that  king  being  their  great  friend  and  assistant),  the 
fleet  following  him.  There  he  remained  a  month,  and  then  set  sail 
for  Malakka  again,  where  he  met  with  six  ships  of  the  Portugueze, 
of  which  the  Flemmings  burnt  three,  and  the  Portugueze  them- 
selves the  three  others.  From  thence  they  departed  for  the 
Nikubars,  where  they  found  the  vice  roy,  with  seven  ships,  but 
so  close  hauled  ashore,  that  they  durst  not  meddle  with  them. 
The  twentieth  the  admiral  arrived  at  Bantam  with  six  ships  and 
the  twenty  ninth  departed  for  the  Molukkas. 

"  The  fourteenth  of  May,  1607,  a  Malayan  junk  came  in  from 
Grese,  by  whom  they  were  informed  that  one  JuHus  a  Flemming 
and  five  more,  who  left  Bantam  road  the  thirteenth  of  November, 
1606,  for  Sukadanna,  were  put  to  death  at  Bemermassin,  and  all 
their  goods  seized  by  the  king  of  that  place,  for  having  uttered 
certain  contumelious  speeches  of  the  king,  which  coming  to  his 
knowledge  he  sent  for  the  merchant  and  master  to  come  before 
him,  and  gave  orders  to  kill  them  by  the  way. 

"  The  seventeenth  of  August  here  arrived  the  Great  Su7i  from 
Koromandel,  the  captain  Peter  Isaacson,  who  informed  them, 
that  upon  the  island  of  Seylan  they  took  a  great  Portugueze 
ship  bound  for  Malakka,  out  of  which  they  had  eighty  packs 
of  several  sorts  of  cloth  and  eight  hundred  bades  of  sugar,  likewise 
that  in  the  road  of  Masulipatan  where  their  factory  Hes,  they 
took  another  Portugueze  ship  very  richly  laden  with  all  sorts 
of  commodities  fit  for  that  coast,  which  made  it  more  valuable 
as  they  were  ignorant  what  commodities  were  most  in  request 
there.  Her  lading  was  cloves,  mace,  nutmegs,  China  taffaties, 
velvets  and  damasks  of  the  brightest  colours,  but  no  white  China 
porcelain  fine  and  coarse,  of  which  your  great  basons  with  brims 
are  the  best.  Lastly  that  the  Flemmings  had  factories  in  three 
several  towns  upon  that  coast  but  not  far  asunder,  viz.,  at 
Masuhpatan,  Pettapoli,  and  Balligat.  Masulipatan  lieth  in 
the  latitude  of  seventeen  degrees.  It  is  a  place  of  great  plenty 
of  provisions,  thirty  two  hens  being  sold  for  a  ryal,  two 
sheep  for  a  ryal  and  an  ox  for  a  ryal,  but  in  May  when  the  wuid 
is  at  west  it  is  so  extreme  hot  there,  that  the  breeze  is  ready 
to    make    one   faint    away,   yet   you    cannot    sweat    by    any 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  577 

means  till  the  sun  be  down,  and  then  you  shall  sweat  very  much, 
wherefore  in  this  month  they  go  not  abroad  in  day-time  but  in 
the  night,  for  many  have  been  suffocated  by  the  heat. 

"  Lucia  Island.  The  seventh  there  arrived  a  small  pinnace 
from  an  island  called  St.  Lucia,  in  the  latitude  of  twenty  four 
degrees  and  a  half  south  about  a  mile  from  the  island  of  Mada- 
gaskar,  where  they  were  forced  in  on  account  of  the  carak  which 
departed  from  hence  the  fourth  of  October,  1606,  which  having 
sprung  a  leak  they  were  obliged  to  throw  over  board  three 
thousand  sacks  of  pepper,  besides  other  commodities  to  a  great 
value.  They  told  the  Enghsh  that  St.  Lucia  was  a  very  good 
place  to  refresh  in,  that  the  people  have  no  laiowledge  of  money, 
that  they  bought  a  fat  ox  for  a  tin  spoon  and  a  sheep  for  a  small 
piece  of  brass,  that  it  is  hard  ground,  and  very  good  riding  in 
seven  and  eight  fathom. 

"  The  fourteenth  of  November  Captain  David  Middleton 
arrived  here  in  the  Consent  of  London. 

"  Affairs  of  the  Dutch.  The  seventeenth  the  Flemmish 
admiral  Mateleeze  arrived  here  from  the  coast  of  China,  where 
he  hoped  to  have  gotten  trade  but  could  not ;  he  offered  them 
at  Kanton  an  hundred  thousand  ryals  of  eight  for  a  gift  only, 
but  they  would  not  accept  it.  He  was  in  great  danger  of  being 
taken  there  by  six  caraks  which  came  out  of  Makau  on  purpose  ; 
they  made  him  cast  off  his  pinnace  which  the  Portugueze  took. 
He  touched  at  Kamboya  and  Pabang  but  bought  nothing  besides 
victuals. 

"  The  seventeenth  of  December  arrived  the  Gelderland  from 
Holland.  They  came  between  St.  Laurence  and  the  coast  of 
Africa.  Their  first  place  of  refreshment  was  at  Maoytta,  one 
of  the  islands  of  Komora,  where  they  set  up  a  fine  pimiace. 
It  is  a  good  harbour  but  there  are  few  cattle.  From  thence 
sailing  to  Kalekut  in  their  way,  they  took  a  small  boat  of  Mekka 
laden  with  rice,  having  passengers  in  her  of  divers  nations. 
The  town  of  Kalekut  lies  by  the  sea-side,  and  is  thought  to  be 
five  Enghsh  miles  long.  The  Sambarin,  which  is  their  king, 
came  down  to  them,  very  richly  clad  ;  he  had  a  crown  of  gold 
over  his  turban  and  a  naked  sword  in  his  hand,  which  is  their 
manner.  He  gave  the  Flemmings  good  words,  offermg  to  let 
them  leave  a  factory  there,  but  they  durst  not  trust  him,  the 
Portugueze  being  so  much  in  his  favour. 

"  The  twenty  seventh  Admiral  Paulus  van  Carle  arrived  at 
J. — VOL.  I.  P  P 


578  JAVA 

Bantam,  with  seven  very  good  ships,  and  one  Portugueze  frigat. 
They  refreshed  at  Cape  de  Lope  Consaluo  upon  the  coast  of 
Guinea,  where  they  found  very  good  water  and  fish.  They 
stayed  here  six  weeks,  having  the  wind  at  south  east  by  east, 
and  from  hence  sailed  to  an  island  called  Annabon  upon  the  same 
coast. 

"  They  Attack  Mosambik.  A  brief  account  of  their  voyage 
according  to  their  own  report  is  as  follows  : — The  thirteenth  of 
March  they  came  to  an  anchor  in  the  road  of  Mosambik,  in 
eighteen  fathoms,  the  castle  firing  very  hotly  at  them,  but  instead 
of  answering  them  for  the  present,  they  made  haste  to  board  two 
great  Guzerat  ships  and  a  frigat  which  rid  hard  by  them,  laden 
with  calicos,  coarse  blue  cloth  with  white  spots,  and  some  with 
red,  the  greatest  part  of  which  they  carried  off,  and  set  the  great 
ships  on  fire,  but  the  frigat  they  kept.  Having  mustered  their 
men,  next  day  they  found  them  nine  hundred  and  ninety  five, 
in  perfect  health.  Hereupon  the  first  of  April  they  landed  seven 
hundred  men  and  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  viz.,  eight  demi- 
cannons  of  brass,  and  two  demi-culverins  of  iron,  and  battered 
the  castle,  but  with  Httle  success,  wherefore  they  brought  their 
trenches  so  near  the  enemy's  that  they  could  heave  stones  into 
them,  and  the  same  night  began  to  work  upon  their  mine,  but 
there  fell  so  much  rain,  that  they  were  constrained  to  give  it 
over.  The  besieged  also  threw  firepots  from  the  walls  upon  the 
Flemmings,  which  annoyed  them  exceedingly,  and  making  use 
of  this  advantage  saUied  out  and  did  much  execution.  Thus 
after  six  weeks  leaguer  the  Flemmmgs  having  lost  forty  men, 
and  many  more  being  sick  and  wounded,  retired  with  their 
ordnance  aboard,  and  set  sail  out  of  the  road,  the  castle  firing 
very  hotly  upon  them  all  the  while,  so  that  they  sunk  the  stern- 
most  of  the  fleet,  which  was  a  very  tall  ship,  the  gunner  an 
Enghshman  and  other  of  the  ships,  had  thirty  shot  through  their 
sails  and  hull. 

"  From  hence  they  went  for  Mayotta,  one  of  the  islands  of 
Komora,  to  refresh.  Here  they  bought  six  hundred  and  twenty 
oxen  and  thirty  five  sheep  and  goats  with  which  the  men  were 
greatly  recruited.  These  people  are  acquainted  with  money, 
and  would  deal  with  them  for  no  commodity  but  ryals.  The 
king  made  a  decree  that  no  man  should  sell  them  any  cattle  till 
his  own  were  all  sold,  which  he  would  not  part  with  under  three 
ryals  of  eight  the  piece,  whereas  they  bought  an  ox  of  his  people 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  579 

for  a  ryal  of  eight  and  goats  cheaper.  After  they  had  been  here 
six  weeks,  they  mustered  their  men  again  and  found  them  nine 
hundred  and  forty  strong.  Wherefore  it  was  determined  to 
return  to  Mosambik  and  attack  the  castle  once  more  ;  but  going 
to  enter  the  road  they  found  three  caraks  riding  there  newly 
come  from  Portugal,  upon  which  it  was  held  best,  to  keep  back 
and  ply  off  and  on  to  see  if  the  caraks  would  come  out,  but  being 
disappointed  they  stood  away  along  the  shore,  about  thirty 
leagues  off  Goa,  where  at  a  town  called  Seperdown  they  landed 
all  the  Guzerats  which  they  had  out  of  the  ships  at  Mosambik. 
At  this  place  there  is  good  refreshing  and  cheap,  twenty  hens 
for  a  ryal,  a  hundred  and  fifty  eggs  for  a  shilling,  and  as  much 
fresh  fish  as  would  serve  all  the  ship's  company  a  day,  for  a  ryal 
of  eight.  It  hes  in  eighteen  degrees  north  and  is  not  far  from 
Chaul ;  they  ride  in  seven  fathoms,  clay  ground.  The  people 
are  Moors  and  great  enemies  to  the  Portugueze.  It  affords  no 
merchandize  but  a  Httle  pepper. 

"  From  hence  hard  by  the  islands  of  Kommodo  seven  leagues 
to  the  north  of  Goa  they  took  a  carak  bound  from  Lisbon.  Most 
of  her  lading  was  ryals  of  eight,  all  which  they  took  out,  and  set 
her  on  fire,  but  carried  Jeronymus  Telbalditto  along  with  them. 
At  Goa  they  stayed  a  month  in  hopes  of  meeting  with  the  caraks, 
which  they  had  seen  at  Mosambik,  but  to  no  purpose,  wherefore 
they  set  sail  and  went  for  Kalekut,  purposing  to  have  spoken 
with  the  Sambarin,  but  by  reason  of  ten  galleys  which  were  come 
from  Goa,  and  lay  there,  they  went  not  ashore  for  fear  of  some 
treachery.  However,  they  made  him  a  present,  which  was  two 
piece  of  brass,  sending  their  cask  at  the  same  time  for  water,  in 
which  they  were  disappointed  finding  none  they  durst  drink. 
From  hence  they  shaped  their  course  for  Cape  Komorin,  to  look 
for  some,  and  meeting  with  none  there,  directed  their  course  for 
the  Streights  of  Malakka,  but  the  winds  and  currents  proving 
contrary  they  made  directly  for  Bantam,  having  been  out  of 
Holland  twenty  one  months  and  an  half. 

"  The  thirty  first  of  December  Admiral  van  Carle  departed 
this  road,  with  seven  ships  and  one  frigat,  to  spend  some  time  in 
the  Streights  of  Malakka  in  hopes  of  meeting  with  the  Makau 
ships,  but  without  success.  Aid  the  fourth  of  January,  1608, 
returned  to  Bantam  leaving  his  ships  at  Pulo  Tindu.  The  fifth 
he  departed  for  the  Molukkas. 

"  The  eighteenth  Mateleese  the  Younger  sailed  for  Holland  ; 

PP  2 


580  JAVA 

his  lading  was  twelve  thousand  sacks  of  pepper,  four  hundred 
sacks  of  nutmegs,  sugar,  ebony-wood  and  some  raw  silk. 

"  This  year  1608,  there  arrived  many  junks  from  China  and 
other  places.  The  nineteenth  of  August  a  Flemmish  ship  called 
the  Erasmus  came  from  Amboyna  having  in  her  seven  hundred 
bahars  of  cloves,  which  she  laded  at  Hitto.  The  first  of  September 
a  small  pinnace  of  the  Flemmings  arrived  from  Machian,  which 
brought  them  advice  that  the  China  and  the  Dove  were  cast 
away  riding  at  anchor  before  that  place  with  very  little  wind  at 
west,  which  wind  makes  such  a  sea  there,  that  it  is  not  possible 
for  ships  to  ride,  the  ground  being  foul  and  the  water  seventy 
and  eighty  fathoms  deep,  also  that  they  had  taken  Machain 
and  Taffasal  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  and  had  left  in  each 
place  a  hundred  and  twenty  Flemmings,  and  that  in  like  manner 
they  had  strengthened  the  castle  at  Malayo. 

"  The  tenth  a  pinnace  of  the  Flemmings  departed  for  Sukadanna 
to  fetch  away  the  merchants,  who  they  heard  were  very  sickly 
and  could  get  in  no  part  of  their  debts,  left  there  by  Claes 
Simonson. 

"  The  twenty  third  the  Zeland  arrived  from  Banda,  half  laden 
with  mace  and  nutmegs,  her  burthen  an  hundred  and  fifty  lasts. 
The  twenty  fifth  arrived  the  Hay  from  Koromandel,  her  lading 
was  divers  of  Mallayo  cloth,  and  cloth  Cheara  Java. 

"  The  second  of  October  the  Dragon  came  in  from  Priaman, 

Wilham  Keehng,  general,  who  on  the  seventh  went  up  to  court  and 

dehvered  the  King  of  England's  letter,  with  a  present  which  was 

five  pieces  of  ordnance,  a  bason  and  ewer  and  a  barrel  of  powder. 

"  The  thirteenth  in  the  morning  very  early  the  governor  and 

his  Jerotoohes  were  killed  by  the  Pungavas,  the  Shah  Bandar, 

the  Admiral  Key  Depatti,  Utennagarra,  etc.,  who  all  assembled 

over  night  at  Keymas  Patties  house,  and  beset  the  court,  first 

securing   the  king   and  his   mother.     Then  they  ran  into  the 

governor's  court,  thinking  to  have  caught  him  in  bed,  but  he 

had  just  time  enough  to  get  behind  it,  where  they  found  him. 

Having  wounded  him  on  the  head  he  fled  to  the  priest  called  Key 

Finkkey,  who  came  forth  and  entreated  them  for  his  hfe,  but  in 

vain,  for  they  forced  in  and  dispatched  him. 

"  The  eighteenth  the  Flemmings'  pinnace  from  Sukadanna, 
arrived  with  their  merchants  brought  from  thence,  leaving  the 
country  much  indebted  to  them. 

"  Van  Carle  Returns  Home.    The  sixth  of  November,  the 


THE   TOWXS    IX   JAVA,   ETC.  581 

vice  admiral  of  Paulus  van  Carle  set  sail  for  Holland,  with  five 
ships  laden  with  cloves,  mace,  nutmegs,  pepper  and  diamonds. 
The  eighth  there  arrived  a  small  pinnace  of  the  Flemmings  from 
Malakka,  by  which  they  had  advice  of  thirteen  sail  of  ships  riding 
there,  which  in  their  voyage  had  taken  two  caraks.  The  ninth 
Samuel  Plummer  departed  for  Sukadanna  to  remain  there. 

"  The  fourth  of  December  in  the  afternoon  General  Keeling 
set  sail  for  England  in  the  Dragon,  but  the  sixth  was  forced  back 
by  foul  weather  and  westerly  winds.  The  tenth  he  departed  from 
the  west  point,  and  the  thirteenth  returned  agam,  having  met 
with  the  Hector  in  the  Streights  of  Sonda,  most  of  whose  men  were 
infected  with  scurvy.  The  Portugueze  of  Daman  had  seized  their 
boats  at  Surat,  taken  nineteen  of  their  men  and  nine  thousand 
ryals  in  cloth  as  it  cost  there.  In  their  way  from  Bantam,  they 
met  with  a  small  frigat  from  Kollumba,  out  of  which  they  took 
eleven  packs  of  cloth  containing  in  all  eighty  three  cloths,  thirteen 
pieces  pouhngs  which  were  sent  for  the  islands  of  Banda. 

"  The  sixteenth  of  December  a  small  ship  arrived  from  Holland 
which  met  with  two  ships  a  httle  to  the  north  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  ;  they  took  them  to  be  Enghsh  ships,  the  lesser  of  them 
bearing  the  flag  in  the  main-top.  This  ship  had  been  on  her 
voyage  eight  months  and  ten  days.  They  refreshed  at  Pulo 
Lamone,  one  of  the  islands  of  Komora,  where  they  had  great 
store  of  beeves  and  goats  for  old  knives  and  tin  spoons. 

"  The  twenty  second  she  set  sail  for  Malakka,  to  their  fleet 
which  lay  there,  with  orders  to  them  to  break  up  the  siege. 

"  The  twenty  third  the  Dragon  departed  for  England,  Gabriel 
Towrson,  captain.  The  first  of  January,  1609,  their  general 
Wilham  Keehng  set  sail  in  the  Hector  for  the  islands  of  Banda. 

"  The  seventh  arrived  two  ships,  and  a  pinnace  of  the 
Flemmings  from  Koromandel  laden  with  cloth,  some  part  of 
which  they  had  taken  and  the  rest  bought.  They  had  also  taken 
five  prizes,  one  a  carak  at  Mozambik. 

"  The  fifteenth  of  January,  1609,  departed  the  Great  Sun  and 
the  two  ships  which  came  from  Koromandel. 

"  The  third  of  Febmary  arrived  Admiral  WiUiamson  Verhoofe 
with  twelve  sail  of  good  ships  from  Malakka,  and  the  fourteenth 
departed  with  seven  ships  for  the  Molukkos. 

"  Artifice  of  the  Dutch.  The  ninth  of  March  the  Flemmings 
procured  a  meeting  at  court  of  all  the  Pungavas,  acquainting 
them,  that  having  received  letters  from  their  king,  the  King  of 


582  JAVA 

Holland,  which  made  mention  of  a  peace  concluded  between 
them  and  the  Portugueze,  they  thought  it  fit  to  inform  them 
thereof,  because  thenceforward  if  the  Portugueze,  under  colour 
of  trading  with  them,  should  come  and  invade  their  country, 
they  could  no  longer  take  the  part  of  the  Javans,  as  they  had 
hitherto  done.  The  Pungavas  having  heard  this  speech  burst 
into  a  loud  laughter,  perceiving  their  drift  was,  by  this  method, 
to  raise  fears  and  jealousies  in  them  of  the  Portugueze,  in  order 
to  prevent  their  granting  them  licence  to  trade,  which  might 
prejudice  the  Flemmings.  The  governor  gave  no  other  answer 
but  this,  that  they  might  take  their  course.  The  twentieth  a 
Chinese  house  next  to  the  Enghsh  warehouse,  took  fire  and  was 
burnt  down,  but  theirs  luckily  escaped. 

"  Saris  Called  to  Accottnt.  The  twenty  first  Mr.  Saris  being 
sent  for  to  court  by  Pangran  Areaumgalla  the  then  governor, 
went  and  carried  with  him  a  present,  viz.,  a  piece  of  Mallee 
Goobear,  another  of  Morey,  a  piece  of  Mallayo  Pintado,  one 
Bandaleer  and  a  roll  of  Match,  which  was  accepted  very  kindly. 
The  governor  told  him,  he  had  sent  for  him,  hearing  that  there 
were  two  men  in  chains  in  their  house  for  debt,  and  he  wanted  to 
know  by  whose  order  they  were  kept  there.  Saris  told  him  he 
had  the  king's  order  for  taking  them  up,  and  hoped  that  he  would 
not  discharge  them,  before  he  had  received  satisfaction,  at  least 
for  some  part,  shewing  him  their  bills  to  prove  the  debt.  He 
said  he  supposed  they  were  indebted,  but  that  for  the  king 
giving  the  English  licence,  to  chain  them  up,  he  knew  to  the 
contrary,  and  therefore  insisted  on  having  them  released.  At 
last  with  much  entreaty  Saris  got  leave  to  keep  them  till 
Tanyomges,  who  owed  four  hundred  twenty  ryals  and  a  half, 
should  pay  one  hundred,  and  Bungune,  whose  debt  was  five 
hundred  ryals,  and  a  hundred  sacks  of  pepper,  should  pay  twenty 
bags  of  pepper  and  one  hundred  ryals  in  money,  for  which  he  had 
given  his  note.  Accordingly  the  governor  sent  one  of  his  slaves 
home  with  Saris,  to  let  the  prisoners  know  on  what  conditions 
they  were  to  be  freed. 

"  Dutch  Undermine  the  English.  The  twenty  fourth  the 
Author  being  summoned  again  to  court,  when  the  governor 
demanded  of  the  Flemmings,  who  had  also  been  sent  for,  whether 
it  was  their  country  maimer  to  take  up  a  man  for  debt,  without 
acquainting  the  king  ?  They  answered  No  !  Whereupon  he 
gave  order  presently  to  have  them  let  out.     Saris  reminded  him 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  583 

of  his  promise  but  three  days  before,  but  it  availed  nothing,  for 
he  sent  one  of  the  king's  slaves  and  took  them  out  of  the  house. 
This  was  done  as  the  Author  supposed  at  the  instance  of  the 
Flemmings,  instigated  thereto  by  Lak-Moy,  in  order  to  undeceive 
the  English,  since  they,  finding  no  justice  to  be  had,  would  hardly 
venture  to  trust  the  Chinese,  who  therefore  must  necessarily  come 
to  him,  by  which  means  he  should  get  all  the  trade  to  himself,  and 
this  equally  served  the  purpose  of  the  Flemmings,  who  furnished 
him  with  all  sorts  of  commodities. 

"  The  twenty  third  of  April,  1609,  here  arrived  a  small  pinnace 
of  the  Flemmings,  from  Sukadanna  and  Ternata,  by  whom  they 
understood,  that  Paulus  van  Kerle  was  taken  at  Ternata. 

"  Design  to  Discover  Borneo.  The  twenty  first  of  May  a 
pinnace  of  the  Flemmings  set  sail  for  Bemermassin  pursuant 
to  a  resolution  they  came  to  among  theniselves,  to  search  out 
every  creek  and  corner  of  the  island,  since  they  were  told  it 
abounded  with  gold,  and  bezoars  that  might  be  traded  for  with 
beads  and  other  haberdashery  ware. 

"  The  twenty  sixth  of  August  Captain  Keeling  arrived  from 
Banda,  with  twelve  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty  four 
kattis,  one  half  quarter  of  mace,  and  fifty  nine  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  forty  six  kattis  of  nutmegs,  which  stood  him  in 
nine,  ten,  and  eleven  ryals,  the  bahar,  the  katti  there,  weighing 
thirteen  and  a  half  Enghsh  ounces.  The  small  bahar  of  mace  is 
ten  kattis  or  a  hundred  of  nutmegs,  and  the  great  bahar  is  a 
hundred  kattis  mace,  or  a  thousand  nutmegs,  so  that  if  a  man 
be  indebted  to  you  ten  kattis  mace,  and  wiU  give  you  a  hundred 
kattis  of  nutmegs,  you  cannot  refuse  them. 

"  The  fourth  of  October  Captain  Keehng  having  taken  in  the 
rest  of  his  lading,  which  was  four  thousand  nine  hundred  bags, 
and  three  kattis  of  pepper,  set  sail  from  Bantam  in  the  Hector, 
the  Author  coming  for  England  in  the  same  ship,  having  been  in 
Java  four  years,  nine  months  and  eleven  days. 

"  Lignum  Aloes.  A  wood  so  called  by  the  English  is  named 
by  the  Malloyans,  Garru.  The  best  sort  comes  from  Malakka, 
Siam  and  Kamboya.  Choose  that  which  is  in  large  round  sticks, 
and  very  massy,  being  black  marbled  with  ash  coloured  veins, 
somewhat  bitter  in  taste,  and  is  Hkewise  of  an  odoriferous  scent, 
and  that  burns  Uke  pitch  in  bubbles,  a  spHnter  being  laid  upon 
a  fire-coal,  for  if  it  be  good,  it  will  not  leave  frying,  till  it  be  quite 
consumed,  jnelding  a  most  grateful  odour. 


584  JAVA 

"  Benjamin  is  a  gum  called  by  the  Mallayans  minnion.  The 
best  sort  comes  from  Siam,  which  is  very  pure,  clear  and  white, 
with  httle  streaks  of  amber  colour.  Another  sort  which  is  not 
altogether  so  white,  though  very  good,  is  brought  from  Sumatra. 
A  third  sort  which  comes  from  Priaman  and  Burrowse  is  very 
coarse,  hke  horse  bread  and  not  saleable  in  England,  but  well 
esteemed  in  Bantam. 

"  Civet.  The  best  is  of  a  deep  yellow  colour  somewhat  Uke 
gold,  not  whitish,  for  that  is  usually  adulterated  with  grease, 
yet  it  is  naturally  whitish  when  fresh  taken,  and  will  in  time 
become  yellow. 

"  Musk.  There  are  three  sorts,  black,  brown  and  yellow,  the 
first  is  bad,  the  second  good,  and  the  last  best.  This  ought  to 
be  of  a  deep  amber  colour,  like  the  best  spikenard,  and  inclosed 
with  a  single,  not  a  double  skin,  as  it  often  is,  nor  should  it  be 
over-moist  which  makes  it  heavy,  but  in  a  medium.  It  ought 
to  have  some  hairs  like  bristles,  but  not  very  many,  to  be  clear 
of  stones,  lead  or  other  trash,  and  of  a  strong  and  fragrant  smell, 
which  to  many  is  offensive.  Being  tasted,  the  scent  pierceth 
the  brain.  It  ought  neither  to  melt  too  soon  in  the  mouth,  nor 
yet  to  remain  very  long  undissolved  in  the  hand.  It  must  not 
be  kept  near  any  sort  of  spice,  lest  it  will  lose  the  scent. 

"  Bezoar.  There  are  hereof  two  kinds,  one  comes  from  the 
West,  the  other  from  the  East  Indies,  which  last  is  worth  double 
the  price  of  the  other.  The  stones  of  each  sort  have  different 
shapes  ;  some  are  round,  others  long,  like  date-stones,  others  hke 
pigeons'  eggs,  some  like  the  kidneys  of  a  young  goat,  and  others 
in  form  of  a  chestnut,  but  all  for  the  most  part  are  blunt  at  the 
ends,  not  piked  ;  their  colour  is  no  less  various,  for  some  are  of  a 
hght  red,  others  the  colour  of  honey,  many  of  a  dark  ash  colour, 
like  the  civet-cat,  but  for  the  most  part  of  a  very  pale-green. 

"  The  East  India  bezoars  consist  of  many  peelings  or  coats 
like  an  onion  bright  and  resplendent,  as  if  pohshed  by  art.  One 
coat  being  peeled  off,  the  next  is  more  resplendent,  or  brighter 
than  the  former.  These  peelings  are  some  thin,  some  thick, 
according  to  the  largeness  of  the  stones,  and  the  larger  the  stone 
is,  the  better  for  sale.  This  is  a  certain  way  to  make  trial  of 
bezoars  : — ^take  the  exact  weight  of  the  stone,  then  put  it  into 
water,  and  let  it  stand  four  hours .  Then  see  if  it  be  not  cracked 
wipe  it  dry  and  weight  it  again,  if  it  weigh  never  so  small  a  matter 
more  than  it  did  at  first,  depend  upon  it,  it  is  not  good.     In  this 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  585 

manner  the  Author  found  several  turn  to  chalk,  with  a  Uttle 
stick  in  the  middle,  that  hath  weighed  a  Tael  Java,  or  two  ounces. 
Most  of  the  counterfeits  come  from  Sukadanna  in  Borneo,  they 
are  to  be  had  at  Pattanney,  Bemermassin,  Sukadanna,  Makkassar 
and  Insula  das  Vacas,  which  is  at  the  entrance  of  Kambaya. 

"  Amber.  This  is  of  several  colours,  as  black,  white,  brown 
and  grey.  The  black  is  usually  the  basest  and  the  grey  the  best, 
of  which  choose  what  is  clearest  of  filth  and  dross,  pure  of  itself, 
inclining  to  white,  and  of  an  ash  colour,  intermixed  with  veins, 
some  ash  colour,  others  whitish.  It  ought  to  float  above  the 
surface  of  water,  which  though  some,  that  is  sophisticated,  may 
do,  yet  this  is  certain,  that  none,  which  is  pure,  will  suik  in  water. 
The  greatest  quantity  comes  from  Mosambik  and  Sofala. 

"  Bantam  :  A  Great  Mart.  Bantam,  a  town  situate  in  the 
island  of  Java  Major,  stands  in  six  degrees  south,  and  hath  three 
degrees,  variation  west.  This  place  is  the  great  mart  of  divers 
nations  for  sundry  kinds  of  commodities,  but  itself  affordeth 
little  besides  victuals,  cotton,  wool  and  pepper,  whereof  the 
quantity  at  harvest  (which  is  in  October)  may  be  thirty  or 
thirty-two  thousand  sacks,  each  sack  containing  forty  nine  kattis 
and  an  half  china,  at  twenty  one  ryals  and  an  half  English  the 
katti.  A  sack  is  called  a  timbang,  and  two  timbangs  is  one  pikul, 
three  pikuls  is  a  small  bahar,  and  four  and  a  half  a  great  bahar, 
which  is  four  hundred  and  forty  five  kattis  and  an  half.  Like- 
wise there  is  a  kulak,  by  which  the  Javans  most  commonly  deal 
because  they  are  not  very  perfect  in  the  use  of  the  beam.  It 
contains  seven  kattis  and  a  quarter,  and  seven  kulaks  make  a 
timbang  (Hquid  measure)  which  is  a  katti,  and  a  quarter  more 
than  the  beam.  There  should  indeed  be  no  difference  between 
them,  but  the  weigher,  who  is  always  a  Chinese,  gives  his  country- 
men an  advantage,  for  he  can  fit  them  with  a  great  or  small 
measure  at  his  pleasure. 

"  There  came  in  December  and  January  to  this  place  many 
junks  and  praws  laden  with  pepper  from  Cherringin  and  Jauby, 
so  that  in  the  end  of  January  there  is  always  pepper  sufficient 
to  lade  three  good  ships.  The  king  hath  no  money  but  what 
cometh  from  China  which  is  called  kashes,  and  made  of  the  dross 
of  lead.  These  pieces  are  round  and  thin,  with  holes  to  string 
them  on.  A  thousand  kashes  thus  stringed  are  called  a  peku, 
which  is  of  divers  values,  according  as  kashes  rise  or  fall,  whereof 
they  know  how  to  make  their  advantage.     Ten  pekus  make  a 


586  JAVA 

laxsau,  ten  laxsaus  a  katti,  ten  kattis  an  uta  and  ten  utas  a 
bahar. 

"  There  are  two  ways  of  stringing  kashes,  the  one  called 
Chucbuck  China,  the  other  Chucbuck  Java,  of  which  the  Java  is 
the  best,  for  there  should  be  two  hundred  kashes  upon  a  tack, 
but  for  the  China  tacks,  you  shall  find  but  an  hundred  and  sixty 
or  an  hundred  and  seventy.  Five  tacks  should  make  a  peku, 
so  that  you  lose  two  hundred  kasbes  or  an  hundred  and  fifty 
upon  every  peku,  which  will  rise  to  a  great  sum,  if  you  deal 
largely,  but  by  the  law  of  the  country  there  must  be  a  thousand 
kasbes  upon  a  string,  or  else  basse,  that  is  allowance  given. 
When  the  junks  are  about  to  depart,  you  shall  buy  thirty  four 
and  thirty  five  pekus  for  a  ryal,  which  before  the  next  year  you 
may  sell  for  twenty  two  and  twenty  the  ryal,  so  that  there  is 
great  profit  to  be  made,  but  the  danger  of  fire  is  also  great. 

"  Weights.  The  weight  for  bezoar,  civet  and  gold  is  called 
a  tael,  which  is  two  ryals  of  eight  and  a  quarter  or  two  ounces 
EngHsh.  A  Mallayan  tael  is  one  ryal  of  eight  and  an  half  or 
an  ounce  and  a  third  EngHsh.  A  Chinese  tael  is  one  ryal  of  eight 
and  seven  twentieths,  or  an  ounce  and  a  fifth  Enghsh,  so  that 
ten  taels  of  China  are  precisely  six  taels  of  Java. 

"  Goods  for  Importing.  The  Enghsh  commodities  vendible 
here  are — 

Irrni,  long  and  thin  bars,  six  ryals  the  pikul. 
Lead  in  small  pigs,  for  twenty  five  or  twenty  six  pieces,  five 
ryals  and  an  half  the  pikul. 

Powder,  fine  round  corned,  twenty  five  ryals  a  barrel. 
Pieces,  square  sanguined,  the  piece,  ten  ryals  of  six  foot  long. 
Pieces,  square  damasked  all  over,  fifteen  ryals  of  six  feet  long 
and  an  half. 

Broad  cloth,  of  ten  pound  the  piece  of  a  Venice  red,  three 
ryals  of  eight  the  casse,  which  is  three  quarters  of  a  yard. 
Opium  mesri,  which  is  the  best,  eight  ryals  the  katti. 
Aniber,  in  great  beads,  a  wang  and  an  half  tael  of  Mallaya, 
six  ryals  of  eight. 

Coral,  in  large  branches,  five  and  six  ryals  the  Mallaya  tael. 

Ryals  of  eight  are  the  best  commodity  you  can  carry. 

Saris.     In  February  and  March  three  or  four  junks  came 

from  China  very  richly  laden  with  silks  raw  and  wrought,  China 

kashes,  porcelain,  cotton-cloth  of  divers  sorts  and  prices,  viz. 

raw  silk  of  Nanking,  which  is  the  best,  an  hundred  and  ninety 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  587 

ryals  the  pikul,  that  of  Kanton,  which  is  coarser,  eighty  ryals 
the  pikul. 

Taffata  in  boults,  an  hundred  and  twelve  yards  the  piece, 
forty  six  ryals  of  eight  the  gorj,  or  twenty  pieces. 

Velvets  of  all  colours  twelve  ryals  the  piece,  of  thirteen  yards. 
Damask  of  all  colours,  twelve  yards  six  ryals  the  piece. 
White  sattins,  twelve  yards  the  piece,  eight  ryals. 
Burgones,  ten  yards  the  piece,  forty  five  ryals  the  gorj. 
Sleeve  silk,  the  best,  made  colours,  three  ryals  the  katti. 
Musk,  the  best,  twenty  two  ryals  the  katti. 
Gold  thread,  the  best  fifteen  knots  every  knot  thirty  strings, 
one  ryal. 

Velvet  hangings  embroidered  with  gold  eighteen  ryals,  upon 
sattins  fourteen  ryals. 

White  curtain  stuffs,  nine  yards  the  piece,  fifty  ryals  the  gorj. 
White  damask,  flat,  nine  yards  the  piece,  four  ryals. 
White  sugar,  the  pikul,  three  ryals  and  an  half  very  dry. 
Sugar  candy,  very  dry,  five  ryals  the  pikul. 
Porcelain  basons  two  ryals  a  piece,  very  broad  and  fine. 
Calico,  coarse,  white  and  brown,  fifteen  ryals  the  gorj. 
The  junks  bring  hkewise  coarse  porcelain,  drugs,  and  divers 
other  commodities,  but  because  they  are  not  for  the  Enghsh 
trade,  the  Author  omits  them. 

Drugs.     Benjamin,  very  good  and  white,   thirty  five  and 
thirty  ryals  the  pikul. 

Lignum  aloes,  the  pikul  eighty  ryals. 

Allum  from  China  as  good  as  the  Enghsh  two  ryals  and  an 
half  the  pikul. 

"  Koro:mandel.  Cloth  is  a  principal  commodity  here  ;  the 
most  saleable  sorts  are  called  Gubars,  pintados  of  four  or  five 
covets,  fine  tappies  of  St.  Thomas,  ballachos,  Java  girdles, 
otherwise  caine-goolong,  cahco  lawns,  book-cahcos,  and  cahcos 
made  up  in  rowls,  white.  A  gubar  is  double,  and  containeth 
twelve  yards,  or  six  hastas  single,  ballachos,  coarse  and  fine, 
contain  thirty  two  and  thirty  four  hastas,  but  the  finest  are 
always  longest.  The  fine  tappies  of  St.  Thomas  six  hastas. 
Muris  is  a  fine  sort  of  cloth,  but  not  very  much  used  here,  for  it 
is  dear  and  short,  containing  sixteen  hastas  at  two  ryals  and 
a  quarter.  Book  cahcoes  if  they  be  not  corded  are  thirty  two 
hastas.  All  sorts  of  Mallayan  cloth  are  generally  eight  hastas 
long,   wherefore  it  is  called  cherra  mallaya,   and  generally  all 


588  JAVA 

sorts  of  cotton  cloth,  which  is  broad  and  of  good  length,  is  in 
good  request  here.  CaUco  lawns  white  and  red  are  thirty  two 
hastas.  A  hasta  is  half  a  yard,  measured  from  your  elbow  to 
the  top  of  your  middle  finger. 

"  The  King's  Customs.  The  king's  customs  here  are  as 
followeth  : — ^the  custom  called  chukey  is  eight  bags  upon  the 
hundred  bags,  rating  pepper  at  four  ryals  of  eight  the  sack,  what 
price  soever  it  bears.  Billa-Bilhan  is  this  : — if  any  ship  arrive 
in  the  road,  laden  with  cloth  and  such  like,  the  king  is  to  be 
acquainted  with  the  sorts,  quantity  and  price  thereof,  before  you 
can  land  any  part,  then  sending  his  officers  for  such  sorts  as  he 
likes,  he  will  have  them  at  half  price,  or  little  more  as  you  can 
agree,  for  if  you  price  your  cloth  at  twenty  ryals  a  gorj,  he  will 
give  you  but  fifteen  or  sixteen.  The  Flemmmgs'  way  hath  been 
to  give  him  seven  or  eight  hundred  ryals  at  a  time  for  a  ship's 
lading  to  clear  them  of  the  duty  and  trouble,  but  by  the  custom 
of  the  country  this  duty  is  six  hundred  and  sixty  five  ryals  upon 
six  thousand  sacks  of  pepper,  if  you  lade  therewith,  otherwise 
you  are  to  take  so  many  thousand  sacks  of  the  king  at  half  or 
three  quarters  of  a  ryal  upon  a  sack  more  than  the  market  price. 
If  you  have  provided  before-hand  sufficient  lading  to  dispatch 
your  ships,  yet  you  are  to  pay  for  this  duty  as  aforesaid,  or  else 
they  will  not  permit  you  to  lade. 

"  Rtjba-Rtjba  is  a  duty  for  anchorage  and  is  upon  six  thousand 
sacks,  five  hundred  ryals  of  eight.  The  Shah  Bandar's  duty  is 
upon  the  same  quantity  two  hundred  and  fifty  ryals,  that  of  the 
weighers  is  one  ryal  upon  an  hundred  sacks.  Jerotulis  liltewise 
or  weighers  belonging  to  the  custom-house  have  a  duty  of  one 
ryal  for  an  hundred  sacks. 

"  JoRTAN  lies  to  the  eastwards  of  Jakatra  ;  it  is  called  Serebaya, 
affording  victuals,  great  store  of  cotton,  wool  and  spun  yarn. 
Many  junks  come  from  Fauby,  laden  with  pepper  ;  the  town 
likewise  send  some  small  praws  to  Banda,  so  that  a  few  nuts  and 
mace  is  to  be  had  there. 

"  Makkassar  is  an  island  not  far  from  the  Celebes.  It 
affordeth  great  store  of  benzoar  stones,  which  may  be  had 
reasonable,  also  rice  and  other  victuals  in  great  plenty.  Junks 
trade  from  thence  to  Banda  so  that  a  small  quantity  of  mace  and 
nuts  is  likewise  there  to  be  had. 

"  Bali  is  an  island  to  the  eastwards  of  Makkassar  in  eight 
degrees  and  an  half  south.     It  yields  great  store  of  rice,  cotton 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  589 

yam,  slaves,  and  coarse  white  cloth,  which  is  in  good  request 
at  Bantam.  The  commodities  for  this  place  are  the  smallest  sort 
of  blue  and  white  beads,  iron  and  coarse  porcelain. 

"  Timor  hes  to  the  eastward  of  Bali,  in  the  latitude  of  ten 
degrees  forty  minutes  south.  This  island  affordeth  abundance 
of  chindanna,  called  by  the  English  white  sanders,  the  greatest 
logs  are  accounted  best.  It  is  worth  at  Bantam  (when  the  junks 
come  in)  twenty  ryals  of  eight  the  pikul,  also  wax  in  great  cakes 
worth  at  Bantam  eighteen,  nineteen,  twenty  and  thirty  ryals  of 
eight  the  pikul  as  the  time  serves.  As  there  is  great  deceit  in 
this  commodity,  you  must  be  wary  in  choosing  it  and  break  it 
to  see  whether  it  be  mixed  or  not.  The  goods  carried  thither 
are  chopping  knives,  small  bugles,  porcelain  coloured  tafEatas, 
but  none  black,  Chma  frying  pans,  china  bells  and  plates  of 
silver  beaten  flat,  and  as  thin  as  a  wafer,  of  the  breadth  of  a 
hand.  This  is  a  very  advantageous  trade,  for  the  Chinese  have 
given  the  Enghsh,  who  went  with  them  thither,  at  the  rate  of 
four  hundred  per  cent,  profit. 

"  Banda,  in  the  latitude  of  five  degrees  south,  affords  great 
plenty  of  mace  and  nutmegs,  with  oil  of  both  sorts.  It  hath  no 
king,  but  is  governed  by  a  Shah  Bandar,  who  is  in  league  with 
the  Shah  Bandar  of  Nero,  Lentor,  Puloway,  Pulorin  and  Laba- 
takka,  islands  near  adjoining,  which  formerly  were  under  the 
government  of  the  King  of  Ternata,  but  at  present  have  their 
own  governor.  In  these  islands  they  have  three  harvests  in  the 
year,  viz.,  in  July,  October  and  February,  but  that  in  July,  called 
the  Monsoon  Areputi,  is  the  greatest.  The  manner  of  dealing  is 
as  foUoweth  : — a  small  bahar  is  ten  kattis  of  mace,  and  an  hundred 
of  nuts,  and  a  great  bahar  is  an  hundred  kattis  mace  and  a 
thousand  kattis  nuts,  a  katti  being  five  pounds  thirteen  ounces 
and  an  half  Enghsh,  the  prices  variable. 

"  The  commodities  fit  for  these  islands  are  Choromandel 
cloth,  cheremallow,  viz.,  sarrasses,  pintados  of  five  covets,  fine 
ballachos,  black  girdles,  chellis,  white  cahcos,  broad  cloth  stammel, 
gold  in  coin,  viz.,  rose  nobles  of  England,  and  the  low  comitries, 
ryals  of  eight,  but  you  shall  have  that  there  for  seventy  ryals  in 
gold,  which  will  cost  you  ninety  in  ryals  of  eight.  China  basons, 
fine  and  large  without  brims,  damasks  of  hght  colours,  taffatas, 
velvets,  china  boxes  or  counters,  gilt-gold  chains,  plate  cups 
gilt,  head  pieces  bright  and  damasked,  muskets,  but  not  many 
sword-blades,  brand  and  backed  to  the  point.     Kambaya  cloth, 


590  JAVA 

calicos  black  and  red,  calico  lawns  etc.  Rice  is  likewise  a  very- 
good  commodity  for  these  islands. 

"  The  Molukko  Islands.  The  islands  of  the  Molukkos  are 
five,  viz.,  Molukko,  Ternata,  Tydor,  Gelolo  and  Machian.  They 
are  all  under  the  equinoctial  hne  ;  they  afiord  great  store  of 
cloves,  not  every  year,  but  every  third  year.  The  katti  there 
is  three  pound  five  ounces  English,  the  bahar  two  hundred  kattis, 
also  nineteen  kattis  of  Ternata  make  fifty  of  Bantam. 

"  The  commodities  vendible  for  these  places  are  Choromandel 
cloth,  cheremaUow,  but  fine,  and  Siam  girdles,  salolos  ;  fine 
ballachos  and  chelHs  are  most  in  request,  also  china,  taffata, 
velvets,  damask,  great  basons,  varnished  counters,  crimson  broad 
cloth,  opium  and  benjamin  etc. 

"  Siam  Kingdom.  Siam  lieth  in  the  latitude  of  fourteen 
degrees  and  an  half  south.  It  affords  great  store  of  very  good 
benjamin,  and  many  rich  stones,  which  are  brought  thither  from 
Pegu.  A  tael  here  is  two  ryals  of  eight  and  a  quarter.  Here 
is  much  silver  in  bullion,  which  comes  from  Japan,  but  ryals  of 
eight  are  more  in  request,  for  two  and  a  quarter  in  coin,  will  yield 
two  and  an  half  bulhon.  Broad  cloth  stammel  colour,  iron  and 
fair  looking  glasses  are  in  good  esteem.  All  manner  of  china 
commodities  are  cheaper  here  than  at  Bantam.  The  Guzerat 
junks  come  to  Siam  in  the  months  of  June  and  July,  touching 
first  at  the  Maldives,  and  then  at  Tenassere,  where  there  is  always 
five  and  an  half  and  six  fathom  water,  from  whence  they  may 
go  over  land  to  Siam  in  twenty  days. 

"  The  Island  Borneo.  Borneo  lies  in  the  latitude  of  three 
degrees  south.  It  affordeth  great  store  of  gold,  bezoar  stones, 
wax  rotans,  kayulakka  and  sanguis  draconis,  the  principal  trade 
for  which  is  at  the  town  of  Bemermassin.  The  commodities 
requested  here  are  as  foUoweth  : — Choromandel  cloth  of  all 
sorts,  china  silks,  damasks,  taffatas,  velvets,  all  colours  but  black, 
broad-cloth  stammel,  and  ryals  of  eight.  Bezoar  stones  are 
there  bought  for  five  or  six  ryals  the  tael,  which  is  the  weight 
of  a  ryal  and  an  half  of  eight,  or  an  ounce  and  one  third 
Enghsh. 

"  Sukadanna  is  another  town  of  Borneo  in  one  degree  and  an 
half  south  and  north  east  from  Bantam  an  hundred  and  sixty 
leagues.  In  the  entrance  of  the  harbour  five  fathoms,  and  at 
low  water  three  fathoms,  a  faulcon  shot  off  the  shore,  oozy 
ground. 


THE    TOWNS    IN    JAVA,    ETC.  591 

"  Best  Diamonds.  A  great  trade  is  carried  on  by  the  junks  and 
praws  at  this  place  for  diamonds,  which  it  affords  in  abundance 
and  are  accounted  the  best  in  the  world.  There  is  plenty  at 
all  times,  especially  in  January,  April,  July,  and  October,  but 
the  greatest  quantity  is  to  be  met  with  in  the  first  two  months, 
at  which  time  they  are  brought  in  praws  dowTi  the  river  Lave, 
where  they  are  found  by  diving,  as  they  do  for  pearls.  The  reason 
why  there  are  not  so  many  gotten  in  July  and  October,  is  because 
that  being  their  rainy  season,  the  river  rises  to  nine  fathoms  with 
such  a  stream  that  they  can  hardly  dive,  whereas  in  the  other 
months,  the  depth  is  but  four  or  four  and  an  half  fathom,  which 
is  reckoned  best  for  the  purpose. 

"  Imports.  Commodities  vendible  and  in  request  here  are, 
Malaldia  pintados,  very  fine  sarrassa,  gubares,  poulings,  chara 
Java,  cahco  lawns,  China  silk,  light  colours,  gold,  sleeve  silk, 
broad  cloth  stammel,  all  sorts  of  small  bugles,  blue  bugles, 
which  are  made  in  Bantam,  shaped  hke  a  tun,  but  about  the 
size  of  a  bean  ;  you  have  at  Bantam  four  hundred  for  a  ryal  of 
eight,  and  here  an  hundred  for  a  mas,  which  is  three  quarters  of 
a  ryal  of  eight,  China  kashes  ryals  of  eight,  but  principally  gold, 
without  which  you  can  do  httle,  for  you  shall  have  a  stone  for  one 
ryal  in  gold,  which  you  cannot  get  for  a  ryal  and  an  half,  or  a 
ryal  and  three  quarters  in  silver. 

"  When  you  are  bound  for  this  place,  the  best  way  is  to  go 
for  Bemermassin  first,  where  you  may  barter  the  commodities 
aforesaid  for  gold,  which  you  shall  have  for  three  kattis  kashes 
the  Malakka  tael,  which  was  worth  then  nine  ryals  of  eight,  as 
the  Author  had  been  credibly  informed,  and  you  shall  barter  it 
here  for  diamonds,  at  four  kattis  kashes  the  tael,  which  is  one 
ryal  three  quarters  and  an  half  in  weight,  so  that  you  shall  gain 
three  quarters  of  a  ryal  of  eight  upon  a  tael,  but  the  chief  gains 
arise  from  diamonds,  whereof  there  are  four  kinds,  distinguished 
by  their  water,  which  is  called  Verna,  viz.,  Verna  Ambou,  Verna 
Loud,  Verna  Sakkar,  Verna  Bessi,  that  is  white,  green,  yellow 
and  a  colour  between  green  and  yellow,  but  the  white  water  is 
the  best. 

"  Weights  in  Use.  Their  weights  are  called  sa  mas,  sa 
kupang,  sa  busuk,  sa  pead.  Four  hupang  is  a  mas,  two  busuks 
one  kupang,  and  one  pead  and  an  half  is  a  busuk.  There  is 
Ukewise  a  pahaw,  which  is  four  mas,  and  sixteen  mas  make 
one  tael ;   by  this  weight  they  weigh  both  diamonds  and  gold. 


592  JAVA 

"  The  Commodities  of  China  are  : — 

Raw  silk ;  the  best  is  made  at  Nan-King  and  is  called  how-sa, 
worth  there  eighty  ryals  the  pikul. 

Taffata,  called  tue  ;  the  best  made  at  a  small  town  called 
Hok-chu,  worth  thirty  ryals  the  gorj. 

Damask,  called  towne,  the  best  made  at  Kanton,  worth  fifty 
ryals  the  gorj. 

Sewing  silk,  called  kou-swa,  worth  one  hundred  ryals  the 
pikul. 

Imbroidered  hangings,  called  poey,  the  best  ten  ryals  the 
piece. 

Sewing  gold,  called  kim-swa,  is  sold  by  the  chip-pau,  which 
is  bundle,  each  chip-pau  containing  ten  papers  and  each  paper 
five  knots,  sold  for  three  pa-wes  two  ryals  of  eight,  and  the 
best  hath  thirty  six  threads  in  a  knot. 

Sattins,  called  lin,  the  best  one  ryal  the  piece. 

Great  basons,  call  cho-pau,  three  for  a  ryal. 

White  sugar,  called  pe-tong,  the  best  one  half  ryal  the  pikul. 

Porcelain  of  the  same  sorts,  called  poa,  the  best  one  ryal  the 
katti. 

Pearl  boxes,  called  cha-nab,  the  best  five  ryals  each. 

Velvets,  called  tan-go  jounks,  of  nine  yards  long,  five  ryals 
the  piece. 

Sleeve  silk,  called  jounks,  the  best  an  hundred  and  fifty  ryals 
the  pikul. 

Musk,  called  sa-hu,  seven  ryals  the  katti. 

Kashes,  sixty  pekus  the  ryal. 

Broad  cloth,  called  to-lo-ney,  sa-soke,  which  is  three  quarters 
of  a  yard,  worth  seven  ryals  of  eight. 

Looking  glass,  very  large,  called  kea,  worth  ten  ryals  the 
piece. 

Tin,  called  sea,  worth  there  fifteen  ryals  the  pikul. 

Wax,  called  la,  fifteen  ryals  the  pikul. 

Muskets,  called  kau-ching,  the  barrel  twenty  ryals. 

Japan  sables,  called  samto,  worth  eight  ryals  the  piece. 

Elephants'  teeth,  the  biggest  and  best,  two  hundred  ryals 
the  pikul.  The  small  (or  screuelias)  a  hundred  ryals  the  pikul, 
called  ga. 

White  Sanders,  called  twa-whi,  the  best  in  great  logs,  forty 
ryals  the  pikul. 
"  Customs.    The  custom  of  pepper  inwards  is  one  tael  upon 


THE    TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  593 

a  pikul  and.  nothing  outwards.  Strict  care  is  taken  to  hinder 
the  exportation  of  ammunition  of  all  sorts.  In  the  month  of 
March,  the  junks  that  are  bound  for  the  Manillas  depart  from 
Chau-chu  in  companies.  There  go  no  fewer  than  forty  in  a 
year,  sometimes  four,  five,  ten  or  more  together,  as  they  are 
ready.  Their  lading  is  raw  and  wrought  silks,  but  far  better 
than  those  which  they  carry  to  Bantam.  Between  Kanton  and 
the  Manillas  is  ten  days  sail.  In  the  beginning  of  June  they 
return,  laden  with  ryals  of  eight.  They  are  of  no  force,  so  that 
you  may  take  them  mth  your  ship's  boat. 

"  In  1608  pepper  was  worth  in  China,  six  tades  and  an  half 
the  pikul,  and  at  the  same  time,  sold  in  Bantam  for  two  and  an 
half  ryals  the  Timbang." 

List  of  the  governors,  presidents,  residents  and  agents  of 
the  English  East  India  Company's  factory  at  Bantam, 
compiled  from  old  records  : — 

1602—1603.  Master  WiUiam  Starkey,!^  governor  (Master 
Edmund  Scott,  chief  factor  ;  Thomas  Morgan,^  Thomas  Tudd, 
and  eight  English  clerks). 

1603—1605.  Master  Edmund  Scott,*  governor  (Thomas  Tudd,^ 
Gabriel  Towerson,  nine  EngUsh  clerks,  and  a  chirurgeon). 

1605 — 1609.  John  Saris,*' governor  (Gabriel  Towerson,'^  deputy 
governor  ;  John  Herne,^  Richard  Savage  ;  Brown  and  Sidall, 
factors  ;  nine  clerks). 

^  The  first  factors  of  the  English  factory  at  Adreen  in  November,  1602 
were  William  Starkie,  or  Starkey  or  Starckey,  and  Eoger  Styles. 

2  Died  at  Bantam,  30th  June,  1603.  Burial  honoured  by  the  Dutch 
general  Wy borne  van  Warwyck  "  with  a  company  of  shot  and  pikes,  the 
colours  being  trailed." 

3  Died  at  Bantam,  27th  April,  1603. 

^  E.  Scott  left  Bantam  for  England  on  the  4th  October,  1605. 

'  Died  at  Bantam,  14th  April,  1604. 

6  Handed  over  charge  of  factory  on  the  30th  September  and  sailed  on 
the  4th  October,  1609,  on  the  ship  Hector  (Captain  WiUiam  Keeling  in 
command),  having  been  four  years,  nine  months,  and  eleven  days  in  Java. 
The  sultan  promised  Saris  and  KeeUng  to  protect  the  EngUsh  factory. 

'  Left  Bantam  on  the  23rd  December,  1608,  for  England  on  ship  Dragon, 
which  he  commanded  himseU.  He  returned  in  1614  to  Bantam,  shortly 
afterwards  going  to  Amboyna  as  governor  of  the  EngUsh  factory  there. 
Here  he  and  his  staff  were  tortured  and  executed  by  the  Dutch  for  aUeged 
conspiracy. 

8  Keturned  to  England. 

J. — VOL.  I.  Q  Q 


594  JAVA 

1609.  Augustine  Spalding/  ^  governor  (Francis  KeUy,  surgeon ; 
John  Parsons,  Robert  Neal,  Augustine  Ad  well,  Ethelred  Lampre, 
William  Lamwell,  William  Driver,  William  Wilson,  Philp  Badnedg 
(Bandanese),  Francisco  Domingo,  Juan  Seraon,  Adrian  (Mr.  Tower- 
son's  boy)  ). 

1609 — 1610.     Hen  worth,  governor  (Edward  Neetles). 

1610.  Edward  Neetles,^  governor. 

1610 — 1614.     Richard  Woodies/  governor. 

1614 — 1615.     John  Jordan,^  governor. 

1615 — 1617.     Barclay,^  governor. 

1617.     Ball,*  governor. 

1617 — 1619.     John  Jackson,^  ^  president. 

1619.     John  Powell ,  *  ^  president . 

1619 — 1622.     Gabriel  Towerson,^  president. 

1624—1636  (2nd  August).  George  Willoughby,^  president 
(George  Christian,  Frederick  Power  ;  Thomas  Robertson,  sales- 
man). 

1636 — 1639.  (2nd  August).     Robert  Coulson,  president. 

1639 — 1641.  Aaron  Backer,^  president  (Thomas  Ivie,  vice- 
president  and  member  of  council  ;  Richard  Whotton,  salesman 
and  member  of  council  ;   M.  Montfort,  salesman). 

1  The  pay  of  the  factory  staff  was  as  foUows  : — Augustine  Spalding,  £50 
sterling  per  annum  ;  Francis  KeUy,  45s.  per  month  ;  John  Parsons,  30s. 
per  month  ;  Robert  Neal,  29s.  per  month  ;  Augustine  AdweU,  24s.  per 
month  ;  Ethelred  Lampre,  20s.  per  month  ;  WiUiam  Driver,  20s.  per 
month  ;  William  Wilson,  22s.  per  month  ;  William  LamweU,  15s.  per 
month  ;  Phdp  Badnedg,  15s.  per  month  ;  Francisco  Domingo,  12s.  per 
month ;  Juan  Seraon,  10s.  per  month,  and  Adrian  (Mr.  Towerson's 
boy). 

2  When  David  Middleton  arrived  at  Bantam  on  the  7th  December,  1609, 
he  decided,  on  hearing  the  news  there  of  Dutch  activity,  to  sail  for  the 
Moluccas,  and  took  Augustine  Spalding  with  him  as  an  expert,  leaving 
Henworth  in  charge  with  Neetles  to  assist  him,  with  three  others  of  his 
Company,  besides,  of  course,  the  staff  there. 

^  When  David  Middleton  returned  to  Bantam  on  the  9th  October,  1610, 
he  found  that  both  Henworth  and  Neetles  had  died  in  the  meanwhile  and 
that  the  business  of  the  factory  stood  stUl. 

^  Sailed  for  England. 

5  Died  at  Bantam. 

^  First  Admiral  Thomas  Dale  and  then,  when  he  died.  Admiral  Martin 
Pring  were  in  supreme  command  of  the  English  factory  during  1619. 

''  Went  to  Amboyna,  where,  as  related  in  the  note  above,  he  was 
executed. 

8  From  1624 — 1632  there  was  a  WOloughby  at  Bantam  as  president,  and 
from  1632  to  1636  a  George  Willoughby  ;  whether  they  are  one  and  the 
same  person  is  not  certain,  but  presumably  they  are. 

^  There  was  great  friendship  between  the  Dutch  Governor-General  at 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  595 

1641 — 1646.  Ralph  Cartwright,  president  (Thomas  Ivie,  vice- 
president  and  member  of  council ;  Christopher  Willoughby, 
salesman  and  member  of  council ;  Thomas  Winter,  salesman  ; 
John  Carter,  Bouman). 

1646 — 1649.  Aaron  Backer,  president  (Thomas  Ivie,  vice- 
president  and  member  of  council ;  Henry  Greenhil,  member  of 
council;  — Noel,  salesman:  died  18th  December,  1647,  at 
Bantam). 

1649 1 — 1658.  Frederick  Skinner,^  resident  (John  RawUns, 
James  Bostock,  members  of  council  ;  John  Edwards,  Robert 
Cock,  Thomas  Skinner  ^  ;  Captain  Robert  Skinner,^  captain  of 
company's  ship  attached  to  station). 

1658  4—1661  (25th  July).  John  Edwards,^  resident  (Henry 
Page,  Robert  Streeter,  William  Mainstone,  members  of  council  ; 
WilHam  Bastingh,  Thomas  Clough,  Peter  Cooke, ^  Richard  Mohnne, 
Henry  Pearle,  Wilham  GifEord,^  Thomas  Leaver,  and  Thomas 
Street «).  - 

Batavia  and  tlie  Englisli  president,  Aaron  Backer,  of  Bantam,  so  much  so 
that  on  the  4th  April,  1641,  when  the  former  knew  the  latter  was  leaving, 
he  sent  to  the  president  by  the  galley  de  Brae  to  Bantam,  under  the  care  of 
the  Dutch  "  onder  koopman  "  (under  salesman)  Pieter  Sowry,  a  dispatch 
worded  in  friendly  terms,  besides  a  vat  of  French  wine,  a  cask  of  butter, 
some  cheese  and  dried  fish  (stockvis),  for  which  the  president  was  "  verre 
muche  obhged." 

'  On  the  24th  July,  1657,  Dr.  Abraham,  an  EngHshman  and  town  doctor, 
died  at  Batavia. 

In  1657  an  English  captain  called  Eoger  Andrews,  in  command  of  a  ship 
called  the  Marigold,  was  trading  in  the  East  Indies  with  Bantam  as  head- 
quarters. Other  EngUshmen  in  the  East  Indian  waters  at  this  time  in 
command  of  the  English  East  India  Company's  vessels  were  Jons  Dettrick, 
Samuel  Staunton,  Jacob  Beerblock,  Robert  May  (captain  of  ship  Advice), 
John  Hayward,  John  Jeffrey,  JuUus  WUdey,  Richard  Kein,  William 
Beauchamp,  John  Hemmerton,  Henry  Dacres,  Alexander  Preswit  (both 
latter  were  styled  admirals),  Robert  Graves,  John  Russell,  Sam  Wright, 
WiUiam  Stevens,  Roland  Dimsdale,  Richard  Seaward,  Thomas  Broockes, 
and  Thomas  Morley. 

^  Went  later  with  his  two  brothers  to  Jamby. 

^  Brothers  of  Frederick  Skinner,  the  resident. 

*  In  May,  1659,  at  Jamby,  the  EngHsh  factory  was  managed  by  Thomas 
Leaver,  Robert  Street,  Howelke  Middleton,  Sowelke  Middleton,  Fowelke 
Middleton  (possibly  sons  of  David  Middleton,  the  first  governor  of  the  East 
EngUsh  Company's  factory  at  Batavia),  Wilham  AspinaU,  Thomas  Street, 
Thomas  Skinner,  Charles  Seller,  Nicholas  Baddiford  (who  commanded  the 
ship  Dragon,  belonging  to  the  Company,  and  was  born  at  Reddriff,  in 
Surrey)  and  Josiah  Derby. 

'  Died  at  Bantam,  25th  July,  1661. 

6  Died  or  left  Bantam  before  1659. 

Q  Q  2 


596  JAVA 

1661  (July  9th  to  October  20th).  Henry  Page,^  acting  resi- 
dent. 

1661 — 1664.  Captain  John  Hunter,^  resident  (Henry  Page, 
John  Dutton,  Humphrey  Weston,  Thomas  Stevenson,  members 
of  council  ;  Francis  Foster,  Peter  Cooke,  Josias  Shute,  John 
Rawlins,  Joseph  Sayer,  William  Turner,  John  Knott,  William 
Mains  tone,  William  Broadbent,  Vincent  Retty,  Thomas  Mead, 
Richard  Mohnne,  John  Benn,  Fowelke  Middleton,  William 
Clough,  Henry  Pearle,  Israel  Emerson,  Robert  Hopper,  Ezra 
Sherley,  Hammond  Gibbon,  Israel  Markland,  Thomas  Hunter, ^ 
George  Smallwood,  John  Hunter,  jun.,^  Robert  Jennings,  and 
James  Bale"*). 

1664  (June)— 1665  (October  25th).  Charles  Browne,^  agent 
(Philip  Trevors,  Thomas  Stevenson,  William  Turner,  Thomas 
Harrison,  members  of  council  ;  Humphrey  Weston,  Robert 
Rawlins,  Lieutenant  Willoughby,  James  Browne,  and  Robert 
Hopper^). 

1665—1669  (October  25th).  Wilham  Turner, "^  agent  (Thomas 
Stevenson,  James  Browne,  Robert  Hopper,  Thomas  Harrington, 
(members  of  council  ;  Lawrence  Chambers,  William  Mainstone,^ 
Roger  Lorimer,  Hammon  Gibbon,  and  John  Scott  ^). 

1669  (February  20th  to  October  19th).  Lawrence  Chambers, 
acting  agent. 

1  John  Edwards,  the  resident,  was  ill  in  bed  with  a  violent  fever  from 
July  9th  until  July  25th,  1661,  when  he  died. 

2  Captain  John  Hunter  was  64  years  of  age. 
^  Sons  of  the  resident. 

^  Many  of  these,  no  doubt,  were  doing  service  in  the  factories  under 
Bantam. 

*  He  arrived  at  Bantam  from  Jamby  with  his  Enghsh  wife  and  three 
other  unmarried  Enghsh  ladies.  The  following  year  he  died  at  his  post  on 
the  25th  October,  1665. 

^  David  Luton,  of  English  parentage,  who  had  been  book-keeper  in  the 
Dutch  Company  at  Batavia  since  1660,  was  sent  in  1661  to  Bantam  as 
resident  in  the  place  of  van  Meerwyck,  but  he  asked  to  be  reheved  in  less 
than  a  year,  as  he  complained  of  being  affronted. 

■^  Died  at  Batavia,  February  22nd,  1669,  where  he  had  gone,  very  ill,  for 
doctor's  assistance  ;  his  body  was  sent  back  to  Bantam  by  the  ship  Hilver' 
sum  to  be  buried  there  by  his  colleagues. 

^  After  being  some  years  at  Jamby,  returned  to  Bantam  on  the  15th 
February,  1669.  On  the  17th  March,  1664,  the  English  agent  at  Jamby 
was  this  very  WiUiam  Mainstone,  but  the  Pangeran  of  Jamby  wrote  the 
Enghsh  resident  of  Bantam  begging  him  to  appoint  someone  else  in  his 
place,  as  he  could  not  get  on  with  him  and  they  were  always  quarrelling. 
Mainstone  decHned  to  leave  or  resign  unless  made  agent  at  Bantam.  He 
was  therefore  suspended  and  a  successor  appointed. 

«  There  was  a  man  called  John  Scott  estabUshed  at  Japara  from  1662 
to  1667.     He  originally  came  from  Banda. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  597 

1669  (October  19th)— 1676  (September  13th).  Henry  Dacres,i 
agent  (William  Mainstone,  Richard  Hale  and  Joseph  Ward,^ 
members  of  council ;  Albinus  Willoughby,  Robert  Marshall, 
William  Limberry,  John  English,  and  Abel  Payne). 

1676  (September  13th)— 1677  (May  21st).  Arnold  White,^ 
agent  (Albinus  Willoughby  * ;  Abel  Payne,  Francis  Bowyear, 
Ralph  Cooke,  members  of  council  ;  Robert  Marshall,^  Cap- 
tain John  Dacres,^  William  Hodges,  and  Captain  William 
Wildy'). 

1677  (May  21st)— 1678  (June  8th).  Abel  Payne,  acting 
agent. 

1678  (June  8th)— 1682  (April  1st).  Robert  Parker,^  agent 
(Francis  Bowyear  ;  Ralf  Cooke  and  Abel  Payne,  members  of 
council  ;  Christopher  Browne,  Samuel  Tartan,  and  William 
Murray). 

Sambas  (Borneo). 

In  1610  Captain  David  Middleton  visited  Sambas  and 
erected  a  factory  here  for  the  English  Company,  but  owing 
to  trouble  with  the  Chinese  this  had  to  be  given  up  four 
years  later,  the  agent  only  escaping  with  his  life  ;  the  other 

1  Left  Bantam  by  the  ship  Lancaster  on  the  19th  December,  1676. 

2  Cousin  of  Henry  Dacres. 

8  Arrived  at  Bantam  by  the  ship  Lancaster  from  England  on  the  8th 
August,  and  took  over  from  Henry  Dacres  on  the  13th  September,  1676. 
He  was  murdered  at  Bantam  by  the  Javans,  with  eight  of  his  council  and 
staff,  on  the  21st  May,  1677. 

^  Died  at  Rembang  on  the  16th  June,  1677.  His  widow  married  on 
the  7th  February,  1678,  the  Danish  agent  at  Bantam,  John  Joachim 
Pauly. 

5  Visited  Batavia  on  the  23rd  January,  1675,  with  his  wife,  for  a  few 
days. 

^  Commander  of  a  Company's  ship. 

7  Was  crmsing  in  East  Indian  waters  from  1670  to  1680. 

^  Arrived  by  the  ship  Phoenix.  After,  as  usual,  informing  the  Dutch 
Governor- General  of  his  arrival,  he  received  a  cordial  letter  "  as  usual  "  in 
reply,  and  van  Goens  presented  his  wife  with  one  lacquer  Chinese  box,  one 
Tonkinese  tea-box,  one  pair  Japanese  screens,  and  two  rare  and  curious 
Masuhpatam  tables. 

On  the  1st  AprO,  1682,  the  EngHsh  East  India  Company  were  igno- 
miniously  driven  out  of  Bantam  by  the  Dutch  Governor-General.  Owing 
to  the  loss  of  Bantam  the  Company  were  obUged  to  abandon  its  factories 
dependent  on  it  in  Siam,  Tonkin  and  at  Amoy,  and  other  places  in  the 
farthest  Indies. 


598  JAVA 

members  of  the  factory  were  killed  by  the  natives,  described 
as  a  wild  and  turbulent  lot. 

The  Sambas  river  has  a  very  broad  entrance,  and  the 
town  is  forty  miles  up  on  the  south  branch.  In  1811  the 
houses  were  built  of  timber  and  bamboos  raised  on  wooden 
stakes  or  piles  on  low  swamp}^  morasses.  The  sultan  was  a 
powerful  prince,  but  when  the  English  captured  the  place 
in  1812  he  retired  into  the  interior. 

The  cause  of  an  expedition  being  sent  is  not  far  to  seek, 
for  Sambas  had  been  a  piratical  stronghold  for  two  hundred 
years  and  more.  In  the  creeks  and  mouths  of  rivers  or 
rivulets  armed  prows  full  of  wild  natives  were  daily  on  watch 
to  dart  Avith  remorseless  swiftness  upon  unprepared  and 
defenceless  merchant  ships,  seizing  them,  and  putting  to 
death  the  Europeans  on  board  under  circumstances  of 
horrible  barbarity.  The  native  crews  were  spared,  but  only 
to  drag  out  an  aimless  existence  as  slaves  to  their  cruel 
captors. 

Early  in  1812  a  large  Portuguese  ship  with  a  particularly 
valuable  cargo  happened  to  pass  within  sight  of  Sambas  on 
her  way  to  Macao.  The  ship  was  seized  and  the  crew 
murdered.  This  was  too  much,  and  Baffles  determined  to 
put  a  stop  to  such  doings.  He  sent  an  expedition  to 
the  spot  under  command  of  Captain  Bowen,  of  H.M.S. 
Phoenix,  in  October,  1812,  which  was  followed  up  by 
another  under  command  of  Colonel  Watson.  The  follow- 
ing official  statement  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the 
facts  : — 

"  To  the  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor  in  Council,  etc.,  etc. 

"  Honourable  Sir, — I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  I 
arrived  off  the  Sambas  river  on  the  22nd  ulto.  with  the  force  under 
my  command,  after  touching  at  Pontiana^  to  procure  boats,  etc. 
On  my  arrival  I  found  Captain  Sayer  commanding  a  squadron 

^  Pontianak. 


THE    TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  599 

of  His  Majesty's  ships,  and  the  following  morning  we  commenced 
getting  the  ordnance  and  stores  into  the  boats,  and  on  the  25th 
the  troops  entered  the  river.  Previous  to  our  advance  a  letter 
signed  by  Captain  Sayer  and  myself  was  despatched  to  the  Sultan 
by  Lieutenant  Bayley,  of  the  Madras  Native  Infantry,  requiring 
him  to  surrender  the  defences  of  Sambas,  also  the  Pangerang  Anam 
and  his  piratical  adherents. 

"  This  letter  it  appears  was  received  by  the  Pangerang,  the 
Sultan  having  previously  withdrawn  to  the  interior,  but  no  answer 
was  returned.  We  then  moved  up  the  river  and  anchored  on 
the  night  of  the  26th  o£E  the  branch  leading  to  Sambas.  From 
all  the  information  I  could  obtain  the  access  to  the  batteries  was 
so  difficult  that  I  determined  to  employ  our  whole  force  divided 
into  different  attacks,  one  of  which  I  hoped  at  least  would  be 
able  to  penetrate  to  the  batteries.  I  accordingly  sent  a  detach- 
ment of  His  Majesty's  14th  Regiment  with  Captain  Morris's 
party  to  land  from  the  main  river  and  penetrate  in  that  direction, 
which  Captain  Morris  was  confident  was  practicable.  This 
officer  was  obhged  however  by  severe  illness  to  rehnquish  the 
command  to  Lieutenant  Bolton,  the  next  senior  officer.  Another 
party  composed  of  the  Royal  Marines  from  His  Majesty's  ships 
with  one  hundred  sepoys  of  the  3rd  Volunteer  BattaUon  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Brookes  of  the  3rd  Bengal  Volunteer 
BattaUon  had  to  pass  through  a  cut  higher  up,  leading  into  the 
Sambas  river,  down  which  they  were  to  come  in  rear  of  the  town. 
This  party,  if  not  in  time  for  the  attack,  I  hoped  might  intercept 
the  retreat  of  the  enemy.  Each  of  these  divisions  was  also 
accompanied  by  a  party  of  armed  seamen  to  assist  in  carrying 
ladders  and  making  a  way  through  the  jungle. 

"  With  the  remainder  of  the  force,  I  proceeded  up  the  Sambas 
river,  and  anchored  on  the  night  of  the  27th  instant,  out  of  reach 
of  gunshot  from  the  batteries.  As  a  Uttle  ahead  of  our  anchorage 
the  ground  appeared  rather  firm  from  the  report  of  Captain 
Bayley  whom  I  sent  to  reconnoitre  the  place,  I  determined  on 
landing  there  another  party  consisting  of  one  hundred  of  His 
Majesty's  14th  Regiment,  eighty  Sepoys  of  the  third  Bengal 
Volunteer  BattaUon  and  a  detachment  of  artillery  with  a  party 
of  the  seamen. 

"  This  column  was  commanded  by  Captain  Watson  of  His 
Majesty's  14th  Regiment.  Captain  Watson  immediately  com- 
menced the  attack,  and  in  a  Uttle  more  than  haU  an  hour  carried 


600  JAVA 

by  assault  the  two  principal  batteries  and  three  redoubts  in  their 
rear  ;  although  resolutely  defended  a  battery  and  five  redoubts  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  were  then  evacuated  by  the  enemy. 

"  On  the  commencement  of  the  firing  I  pushed  up  the  river 
with  a  party  as  a  reserve,  in  men  of  war's  boats,  to  second  which- 
ever column  began  the  attack.  The  front  battery  fired  at  the 
boats  advancing,  although  Captain  Watson  was  at  that  time  in 
its  rear,  endeavouring  to  force  an  entrance.  It  is  difiicult  to 
ascertain  the  loss  of  the  enemy,  as  many  were  killed  endeavouring 
to  escape  in  boats  and  across  the  boom.  From  the  best  informa- 
tion I  can  obtain,  it  amounts  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  including  a  brother  of  the  Sultan's,  the  eldest  son  of 
Pangerang  Anam  and  twelve  others.  Pangerang  Anam  made 
his  escape  in  a  small  quick  sailing  boat. 

"  Captain  Brookes  found  the  cut  through  which  he  had  to 
pass  much  smaller  than  had  been  represented  and  rendered 
impassable  by  trees  felled  across  it.  A  little  beyond  this  cut  he 
found  a  boom  across  the  main  river  defended  by  two  forts  which 
opened  on  a  reconnoitering  party  and  killed  the  boatswain  of 
H.M.S.  Leda.  Being  late  in  the  evening  Captain  Brookes 
determined  to  attack  them  early  the  following  morning  :  when 
as  he  was  moving  for  this  purpose,  a  canoe  brought  a  letter 
from  the  chief,  the  purport  of  it  was  :  '  That  his  batteries  had 
fired  by  mistake,  that  he  was  the  friend  of  the  Europeans.'  At 
this  moment  arrived  H.M.S.  Procris,  which  had  been  sent  up  the 
Main  River.  Captain  Norton  sent  to  inform  the  chief  that  he 
wished  to  anchor  off  the  battery,  and  desired  the  boom  might  be 
opened.  This  request  not  being  comphed  with,  a  party  of 
seamen  were  sent  to  cut  it.  Just  as  they  had  succeeded  the 
batteries  commenced  firing,  which  was  returned  by  the  Procris. 
Captain  Brookes  then  landed  this  party  to  attack  them  ;  but  the 
enemy  immediately  evacuated  their  forts,  and  fled  into  the 
jungle.  In  this  affair  two  Sepoys  were  killed  and  a  ship  Lascar 
wounded. 

"  Lieutenant  Bolton's  party,  it  appears,  took  a  wrong  direction 
at  first,  and  from  the  difficulties  they  had  to  encounter,  did  not 
arrive  in  time  for  the  attack. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  a  return  of  our  killed  and 
wounded  during  the  operations  ;  also  of  the  ordnance  found 
in  the  enemy's  works.  Considering  the  number  and  difficulty 
of    access    to    the    batteries     which    prevented    the    possibihty 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  601 

of  exactly  timing  a  combined  attack,  or  of  moving  a  large  force 
in  any  one  direction,  our  loss  is  perhaps  less  than  might  be 
expected. 

"  It  is  with  much  regret  I  have  further  to  relate  the  death  of 
Captain  Morris  on  the  1st  instant.  This  zealous  officer,  although 
very  ill,  persisted  in  accompanying  me.  He  fell  a  victim  to  his 
unbounded  zeal  for  the  service. 

"  The  pleasing  part  of  my  duty  now  remains  to  bear  testimony 
to  the  general  good  conduct  of  the  whole  of  the  troops,  and  to 
the  cordial  co-operation  of  Captain  Sayer.  commanding  His 
Majesty's  squadron,  who  placed  under  my  orders  the  Marines 
and  also  a  body  of  disposable  seamen. 

"  From  the  Honourable  Captain  Elliot,  with  whom  Captain 
Sayer  entrusted  the  immediate  arrangement  and  command  of  the 
armed  boats  of  the  squadron,  I  experienced  every  assistance 
and  readiness  in  complying  with  any  of  my  suggestions.  My 
thanks  are  due  to  the  whole  of  the  officers,  seamen  and  marines, 
that  landed  from  His  Majesty's  ships  to  second  our  operations, 
particularly  to  Captain  Leslie,  and  the  party  under  his  orders, 
which  accompanied  Captain  Watson's  column.  To  Captain 
Watson  and  his  division  every  praise  is  due  ;  the  result  of 
their  attack  fully  corroborates  the  report  made  by  him,  that 
nothing  could  exceed  the  coolness  and  intrepidity  of  the  men 
comprising  it. 

"  I  am  much  indebted  to  Lieutenant  Bay  ley  of  the  Madras 
Native  Infantry  for  his  assistance.  This  officer  landed  with  Captain 
Watson's  column,  which  he  volunteered  to  lead  ;  and  after  much 
perseverance,  succeeded  in  cutting  a  passage  through  the  jungle. 

"  From  Captain  Dyson,  His  Majesty's  14th  Regiment,  major 
of  brigade,  and  Lieutenant  Gunn  of  the  Bengal  Light  Infantry 
volunteer  battalion,  quartermaster  of  the  troops,  I  also  derived 
every  assistance  in  the  previous  arrangements,  and  during  the 
operations  of  the  Service. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be.  Honourable  Sir, 
"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  James  Watson 
"  (Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  14th  Regiment  Commanding 
the  Troops). 
"Sambas,  July  3,  1813." 

Return  of  Killed  and  Wounded  during  the  operations  against 


602 


JAVA 


Sambas,  including  that  of  Captain  Brookes'  detachment  up  the 
Main  River,  July  3rd,  1813  :— 


Killed 

and 

Wounded. 

Officers. 

Uncommissioned 

Officers  and  Rank 

and  File. 

Seamen 

on 
Shore. 

Grand  Total. 

Regiment  or  Corps  and 

Ships'  Names. 

El 
c3 

3 

a 

CS 

u  > 

s 

6 

s 

o 

■d 
i 

a 

o 

c 

3 

.1 
'5 

o 

n 

a 

i 

i 

e 
o 

Uncommissioned 
Officers,  Rank  and 
File,     and     Sea- 
men. 

His      Majesty's      14th 

Regiment. 

ditto        ditto 
3rd  Bengal  Volunteer 

Battalion. 

ditto            ditto 
Bengal  ArtUlery 

ditto            ditto 
H.M.S.  Leda      . 
H.M.S.  Hussar  . 

Killed 

Wounded 
Killed 

Wounded 

Killed 

Wounded 

KiUed 

Wounded 

1 

1 

1 

1 

— 

1 

— 

3 

20 
3 

13 

1 

6 

1 

16 

0 

O 

4 

1=1 

7 

T3 

13 

o 
55 

Names  of  officers  corresponding  : — 

Captain  Watson,  His  Majesty's  14th  Regiment,  sHghtly. 
Lieutenant  Jennings,  His  Majesty's  14th  Regiment,  shghtly. 
Lieutenant  Trist,  3rd  Bengal  Volunteer  Battahon,  wounded 

severely  and  dangerously. 
Lieutenant  Hoghton,  H.M.S.  Hussar,  severely. 

J.  Dyson  (Major  of  Brigade). 

Return  of  Ordnance  Stores  captured  in  the  different  Batteries 
at  Sambas  : — 

Guns. 
Pounders    32  24  18  12   8    6    4    3      2       1    i      Total. 
Brass  Ordnance    .----1---      2    20    7        30 
Iron         ditto        .      1628-243    10      --       36 

Total    . 


16281243     12    20    7 


66 


Round  Shot,  different  sizes     .....      6,000 

Bar  ditto     ditto 30 

Gunpowder  barrels  ......  26 

A.  Cameron 
(Lieut.  Com.  Detach.  Bengal  Artillery). 
A  True  Copy, 

J.  Dyson  (Major  of  Brigade), 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  603 

Macassar  (Celebes). 

Macassar  town,  or  Fort  Eotterdam  as  it  was  formerly 
called,  dates  from  far  back.  The  English  were  here  in  1615, 
trading  under  a  treaty  made  with  the  king.  Their  factory, 
however,  was  seized  a  year  or  two  later  by  the  Dutch,  whose 
superiority  in  numbers  in  those  days  was  always  as  ten  to 
one.  In  1667  the  Dutch  made  an  exclusive  treaty  with  the 
king,  which  ended  any  trading  here  by  other  nations  ;  and, 
indeed,  the  Dutch  cannot  be  blamed  for  taking  all  the  steps 
necessary  to  consolidate  their  trade.  In  those  days  the  old 
fort  was  impregnable.  Towards  the  sea  was  a  strong 
battery  ;  ships  could  anchor  under  the  walls.  Two  hundred 
years  after  their  first  coming — that  is  to  say,  in  1811 — the 
English  returned  once  more  to  Macassar,  and  a  British 
garrison  of  regulars  and  some  colonial  troops  w^as  stationed 
in  the  Dutch  fort,  still  called  "  Fort  Rotterdam."  The  town 
was  then  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall  sufficiently  low  to 
admit  a  defence  from  the  houses,  and  yet  high  enough  to 
prevent  a  sudden  surprise  from  a  night  escalade  or  a  surprise 
attack. 

The  conquest  of  this  country  after  they  had  finally 
disposed  of  the  Portuguese  had  cost  the  Dutch  much  blood 
and  treasure.  It  was  a  fine  race  of  fighting  men  that 
peopled  the  island  ;  so  strong  were  they  that  in  1420  their 
king  sailed  in  command  of  a  fleet  of  two  hundred  ships  to 
reduce  Malacca,  the  so-called  ancient  capital  of  the  East. 
The  inhabitants  of  Celebes  are  Buginese,  a  race  trained  from 
childhood  to  martial  exercises.  The  British  Residents  here 
were,  in  1811 — 1813  Captain  R.  Philhps,  in  1814  Captain 
W.  H.  Wood,  and  in  1815  Major  Dalton. 

Bonthain,  situated  to  the  south-east  of  Macassar,  as  also 
a  small  settlement  further  eastw^ard  (in  1811  called  Booloe- 
comba),  were  subject  to  the  Resident  of  Macassar. 

The  fort  of  Booloecomba  was  attacked  and  taken  on  the 


604  JAVA 

12th  January,  1810,  by  a  party  of  one  hundred  men  landed 
from  H.M.S.  Cornwallis  and  commanded  by  Captain 
Montague,  Tvdth  Captain  Forbes  and  Lieutenant  Duncan 
Stewart  of  the  Madras  Service.  This  small  party,  after 
capturing  the  fort  from  the  Dutch,  seems  to  have  had  to 
sustain  on  the  day  following  a  furious  attack  from  the 
natives.  It  repulsed  them,  however,  owing  to  the  bravery 
of  Captain  Montague,  w^ell  supported  by  his  men.  A  special 
instance  of  bravery  occurred  this  day,  w^hen  Lieutenant 
Stewart,  at  imminent  risk  of  his  own  life,  stepped  out  of  the 
lines  to  help  a  soldier  of  the  Madras  European  Kegiment, 
w^ho  had  received  a  shot  through  his  leg  and  been  disabled. 
The  enemy  were  nearly  upon  him  when  Lieutenant  Stewart 
threw  him  on  his  back  and  carried  him  to  the  rear  in 
safety. 

Boni  also  gave  the  English  trouble  during  their  occupation 
of  Java,  and  in  April,  1814,  Major-General  Nightingale 
received  orders  from  Raffles  to  prepare  an  expeditionary 
force,  as  Raffles  could  no  longer  bear  with  the  rajah's 
conduct,  which  he  described  as  "  equally  hostile  and 
insulting."  The  force  arrived  on  the  7th  June  at  Macassar, 
and  as  the  rajah  declined  to  offer  the  reparation  demanded 
of  him,  or  to  surrender  the  "  somdang  "  or  regaHa  of  Goa, 
which  he  had  forcibly  seized.  Lieutenant  McLeod  carried 
the  town  of  Boni  by  assault  within  an  hour  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  attack.  The  rajah  escaped,  but  his 
palace,  a  large  quantity  of  gunpowder,  as  well  as  five  cannons, 
several  stands  of  colours,  and  arms  of  all  descriptions  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  English.  The  English  commander  set 
fire  to  the  palace  as  a  lesson  to  the  rajah.  The  enemy  lost 
about  one  thousand,  but  the  EngHsh  loss  was  also  severe. 

As  a  reUc  of  the  British  occupation  of  Macassar  there  is  a 
stone  in  the  cemetery  there  to  the  memory  of  the  first 
British  Resident,  Captain  Philhps,  who  died  in  December, 
1814. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  605 

Bencoolen,  Sumatra  (Fort  Marlborough). 

When  the  English  factory  was  turned  out  of  Bantam  in 
1682  some  of  the  members  went  to  Bencoolen  to  try  and 
secure  a  foothold  here  for  the  Company,  and  on  the  25th  June, 
1685,  erected  a  factory,  the  first  governor  being  Ralph  Ord, 
one  of  the  East  India  Company's  "  trusted  servants."  The 
following  year  branches  were  opened  at  Indrapoera  and 
Marijuta,  and  a  fair  amount  of  pepper,  the  cliief  export, 
was  brought  in  by  the  natives.  The  following  year  a  disaster 
happened,  the  governor  being  poisoned  ;  some  said,  but 
apparently  v^dthout  proof,  that  it  was  at  the  instigation  of 
the  Dutch.  As  other  troubles  and  much  sickness  also 
occurred  among  the  Company's  servants,  it  was  half-decided 
to  withdraw  from  Bencoolen  ;  but  the  Governor- General  in 
Bengal  would  not  hear  of  it,  and  in  1690  Fort  York  was 
built  by  a  certain  Benjamin  Bloom,  who  had  come  from 
Bantam.  In  1693  further  troubles  occurred,  and  heavy 
fever  broke  out  among  the  Englishmen  on  account  of  the 
to^^•n  having  been  built  on  a  malarial  morass,  the  result 
being  that  the  new  governor  and  his  whole  council,  besides 
nearly  all  the  staff,  died. 

By  1694  the  affairs  of  the  new  settlement  began  to 
improve  once  more,  and  a  considerable  and  increasing  trade 
was  done  in  pepper.  A  new  station  was  shortly  after 
established  at  Silleber,  the  rajah  there  having  granted  a 
concession  to  the  Enghsh,  hoping  thereby  effectually  to  keep 
out  his  enemies  the  Dutch.  Between  1697  and  1700  continual 
tribal  wars,  into  which  the  Company  were  unfortunately 
drawn,  were  occurring  in  Sumatra,  which  disturbed  the 
peace  of  the  settlement  and  interfered  with  its  prosperity, 
and  the  garrison  of  soldiers  in  Fort  York  had  to  be  brought 
up  to  two  hundred  men.  Another  epidemic  of  fever  broke 
out  in  1705,  and  the  governor,  three  civil  servants,  and 
forty-one  slaves  died.     In  this  year,  on  account  of  a  con- 


606  JAVA 

tinuance  of  the  native  wars  and  other  reasons,  all  the  men 
on  the  outlying  stations  were  called  in.  Jeremiah  Harrison 
(one  of  the  seniors  of  the  Company's  servants  at  Fort  St. 
George,  Madras)  visited  Bencoolen  in  1708  and  was  very 
much  impressed  by  the  unprosperous  state  of  afTairs  which 
he  found,  and,  putting  this  down  to  the  fact  that  in  1703 
this  settlement  had  been  made  independent  of  Fort  St. 
George,  recommended  its  inclusion  once  more  under  the 
control  of  this  Government,  an  advice  which  was  followed  in 
1710.  Eventually,  after  much  parleying  and  the  expending 
of  somewhat  large  sums  of  money  by  the  Company,  peace 
was  once  more  established  in  1721.  The  settlement  now 
once  more  revived  and  trade  began  to  make  headway  again. 
In  1760  a  French  fleet  visited  the  east  coast  of  Sumatra 
under  Admiral  Count  D'Estang  and  bombarded  and 
destroyed  all  the  English  settlements.  As  soon,  however, 
as  the  fleet  had  disappeared,  the  English,  with  spirits 
undaunted,  now  set  about  repairing  matters  and  restoring 
their  trade  by  rebuilding  the  factories.  Three  years  later 
Bencoolen,  being  considered  strong  enough  and  being  in  a 
more  or  less  flourishing  condition,  was  again  by  decree  made 
an  independent  presidency.  After  this,  however,  the  settle- 
ment went  back  and  gradually  sank  into  insignificance.  It 
is  to  be  seen  from  the  "  Court  of  Directors'  "  letter  dated 
the  18th  April,  1805,  to  the  Government  of  Penang  that 
Bencoolen  from  a  political  and  commercial  point  of  view 
had  become  of  no  importance  whatever,  and  that  pepper, 
the  only  produce  exported,  was  an  unprofitable  concern. 
It  remained  for  Sir  Stamford  Baffles,  who  arrived  here  on 
the  22nd  March,  1818,  as  Lieutenant-Governor,  to  revive 
the  place  and  to  try  and  bring  order  out  of  chaos  ;  this  he 
succeeded  in  doing.  The  place  had  become  a  den  of 
iniquity. 

At  this  time  only  five  hundred  piculs  of  pepper  were  being 
exported,  while  the  expenses  of  the  establishment  amounted 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  607 

to  no  less  than  £100,000  per  annum.  In  the  chapter  on  the 
Life  of  Kaffles  in  the  present  work,  and  also  in  the  Memoirs 
of  his  life  by  Lady  Raffles,  it  is  seen  how  Raffles,  with  his 
great  nervous  energy  and  his  keen  interest  in  his  work, 
cleaned  the  Augean  stable — how  he  furthered  his  country's 
interests  here  and  consolidated  her  power.  Raffles  sailed 
for  England  on  the  1st  March,  1824,  when  Bencoolen 
(Padang,  Nias,  and  all  the  other  stations  had  already  been 
returned  in  1819)  was  given  back  to  the  Dutch.  During 
Raffles'  time  trade  at  Bencoolen  had  received  a  great 
impetus,  and  had  made  such  strides  that  very  good  profits 
were  earned,  which  caused  capital  to  flow  more  freely 
into  the  country.  Coffee  now  was  also  grown,  and  experi- 
ments were  successfully  made  with  small  fields  of  sugar  cane 
and  nutmegs. 

Among  the  principal  English  or  American  families  whose 
names  constantly  appear  betw^een  1820  and  1835  and  until 
Bencoolen  ceased  to  exist  were  those  of  Lems,  Palmer, 
Leicester,  Green,  Barrett,  Watson,  Bond,  Wyatt,  Bogle, 
and  Gibson.  In  these  days  the  settlement  was  a  British 
colony  full  of  life.  The  reasons  why  Bencoolen  never  could 
have  succeeded  are  many  ;  but  firstly  it  needed  a  man  like 
Raffles  to  nurse  it  to  prosperity,  and  to  encom^age  it  with 
broad  views  and  ideas,  and  secondly  it  needed  a  better 
climate.  Both  these  needs  being  wanting,  and  moreover 
there  being  no  apparent  desire  on  the  part  of  the  Dutch  to 
assist  the  English  merchants  there,  but  rather  a  determina- 
tion to  concentrate  trade  as  much  as  possible  on  the  east 
coast  of  Sumatra  at  Padang,  the  entire  trade  of  Bencoolen 
was  gradually  transferred  to  the  latter  place,  and  where 
later  we  have  continual  glimpses  of  such  English-speaking 
families  as  the  Maidmans,  Purvises,  Stew^arts,  Boyles, 
Townsends  and  Wards.  The  one  Enghsh  churchyard  there 
contains  many  of  their  graves,  and  this  is  all  that  now 
remains  of  them.     At  the  present  day  not  one  English 


608  JAVA 

family  exists  in  these  parts,  always  excepting  those  working 
in  the  gold  mines  near. 

List  of  English  Grave-stones  at  the  Old  English  Colony 

OF  Bencoolen. 
Grave-stones  in  the  Churchyard. 

(1) 

Here  Lie  the  Remains 

of  the  Late 

Ma  JR.  Chas.  Porteous, 

2nd  Bn.  Regt.  Bl.  N.  I. 

Who  departed  this  life 

the  8th  April  1816 

Aged  39  Years. 

This  Monument  is  erected  as  a  Small 

Tribute  of  respect  to  his  Memory 

By  the  officers  of  his  Corps. 

(2) 

Here  Lie  Interred 

The  Remains  of 

Alexander  Monteath 

Surgeon 

In  the  Honourable  Company's 

Civil  Service 

Who  died  9th  July  1798. 

Sincerely  Regretted. 

(3) 

Sacred 

To  the  Memorij 

of 

Robert  Bogle,  Esquire 

Who  departed  this  hfe  on  the  26th  of 

September,  in  the  ijear  of  our  Lord 

one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fourtij eight 

deephj  regretted  bij  his  afflicted  daughter 

Susan  Zaharah  Romswinckel. 

No  sculp tur'd  marble  here  nor  pompous  laij, 
No  storied  urn,  nor  animated  bust ! 

This  simple  stone  directs  a  daughter's  waij 
To  pour  her  sorrows  o'er  her  father's  dust. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  609 

(4) 

Sacred 

to  the  Memory 

of 

J.  V.  L.  Bogle  Esqr. 

Who  departed  this  hfe 

on  the  9th  Dec.  1814. 

Sincerely  regretted. 

(5) 
Sacred 
To  The  Memory  of 
Agnes  Harriet, 
The  beloved  wife  of  Charles  Hay,  Esqre. 
and  eldest  daughter  of 
Robert  Bogle,  Esqre.  of  this  Place 
(And  of  Her  Infant). 
She  was  Born  16th  April  1810. 
And  Departed  this  Life  27th  Dec.  1836. 
Aged  26  Years  and  8  Months  : 
Sincerely  and  Deservedly  Regretted. 
This  Monument  is  erected  by 
Her  afflicted  Husband, 
As  a  tribute  to  her  many  virtues. 
Called  not  away  when  time  had  loosed  each  hold, 
On  the  fond  heart  and  each  desire  grew  cold, 
But  when  to  all  that  knit  Us  to  our  kind. 
She  felt  fast  bound  as  love  alone  can  bind. 

(6) 

Here  lie  the  Remains  of 

Charles  Richard  Ramus 

Who  departed  this  Life 

March  14th  Anno  Domini  1808 

Aged  one  Year,  eleven  Months, 

and  seven  Days. 

(7) 

Sacred 

to  the  Memory 

of 

Edward  Arktns  Esqre. 

Who  died  on  the  28th  of  March  1812, 

Aged  46  Years. 

J. ^VOL.      I.  RR 


610  '  JAVA 

(8) 

Sacred 

To  the  Memory  of 

Mr.  Thomas  Whittenberry 

Who  departed  this  Life 

The  28th  of  August  1802. 

Aged  18  Years. 

(9) 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 

William  Holloway, 

Who  having  served  in  the  Civil  Service 

of  the  Hon"*  United  EngUsh  East  India  Company, 

On  the  Island  of  Sumatra 

With  Honor,  Zeal  and  Integrity. 

After  twenty  two  Years  service 

Departed  this  Life 

At  the  Age  of  forty. 

The  Moral  qualities  that  graced  his  Mind 
Proved  him  an  ornament  to  Human  kind, 
Society  his  manners  so  adorned. 
He  lived  respected  died  sincerely  mourned 
Oh  pass  not  by,  stop  youthful  pilgrim  here 
Read  this,  and  O'er  his  ashes  drop  a  tear. 
In  memory  of  those  Virtues  Mankind  praise 
This  Tombstone  did  his  Sorrowing  Brother  raise. 

(10) 

Sacred 
to  the  Memory  of 
Henry  J.  Watson 

Lieut*-  of  the  Fort  Marlbro  Local  Corps 

and  formerly  Lieut^-  H.M.  87th  Regt. 

Who  departed  this  hfe  at  Bencoolen 

on  the  1st  of  February  1824 

Aged  35  Years. 

(11) 

To  the  Memory 

of 

Stokeham  Donston  Esqr. 

Who  departed  this 

Life  at  Marlbro, 

the  2nd  April  1775 

Aged  41. 


THE   TOWNS    IN  JAVA,   ETC,  611 

(12) 

Beneath  this  tomb 

are  deposited  the  remains 

of 

Edward  Crisp, 

Writer  in  the  service 

of  the 

East  India  Company 

Who  died  the  24th  day  of  December 

1796 

Aged  , .  Years. 

(13) 

Here  Lies 

Miss  Frances  Maclane 

Who  departed  this  Life 

on  the  18  October  1858. 

Aged  58  Years. 

(14) 

Sacred 

To  the  Memory  of 

Captain  Thomas  Tapso 

Obiit  15th  July,  1816. 
Aged  51  Years  11th  Mths. 

This  humble  Monument 

Was  erected  to  his  Memory 

By  his  much  afflicted  friend 

Nonah  Jessmina. 

(15) 

Sacred 

To  the  Memory 

of 

Jane  wife  of  P.  Devine 

Subconductor  of  Ordnance 

Who  departed  this  Life 

at  Fort  Marlbro  on  the 

9th  March  1825 

Aged  33  Years. 

She  was  possessed  of  those  Virtues 

Which  adorn  the  sex,  and  whose 

Loss  will  ever  be  lamented  by  an 

Affectionate  Husband. 

B  B  2 


612  JAVA 

(16) 

To  the  Memory 

of 

Mary  Anne 

The  wife  of 

W.  R.  Jennings  Esqr. 

Who  departed  this  Ufe 

The  22nd  Day  of  April 

1818. 

Aged  28. 

This  Monument 
Is  erected  to  her  memory 
By  her  affectionate 
Husband. 

(17) 
(o) 

Sacred 
To  the  Memory  of 
William  Baillie 

Who  departed  this  hfe 
The  31st  August  1810 
Aged  10  days. 

Sacred 

To  the  Memory  of 

Jane  Lewis 

Obit  19th  Feb.  Y  1823. 
^.  22. 

Farewell,  my  best  belov'd,  whose  heavenly  mind 
Genius  and  virtue,  strength  with  softness  join'd  ; 
Unblam'd  unequall'd  in  each  sphere  of  Life, 
The  tenderest  daughter,  Sister,  Parent,  Wife. 
Could  I  express  but  ah  !   can  words  my  loss  declare 
Or  paint  the  extremes  of  transport  and  despair  ? 
O,  thou  beyond  what  verse  or  speech  can  tell, 
My  Guide  my  friend,  my  best  belov'd,  farewell. 

W.  T.  L. 


THE   TOWNS   IN  JAVA,   ETC.  613 

(c) 

Sacred 
To  the  Memory  of 

John  Lancaster 

Assistant  Surgeon 

of  the  Bengal  EstabUshment 

Aged  33, 

Who  departed  this  life 

16th  Sept.  1821. 

(d) 

Sacred 

to  the  Memory 

of 

Mrs.  E.  M.  Baillie 

Who  departed  this  Life 

on  the  23rd  May  1815 

Aged  25  Years  and      Months. 

As  a  small  mark  of  their 

Unimpaired  affection 
and  an  humble  memorial 

of  her  many  Virtues, 

This  Monument  is  erected 

by  her  afflicted  Brothers 

H.  R.  and  W.  T.  Lewis. 

(18) 

Sacred 

To  the  Memory  of 

Captain  Robert  HM.  .  .  . 

of  the  Bengal  Service 

\^Tio  departed  this  life 

At  Fort  Marlborough 

In  the  year 

1820 

Aged  30  Years. 


614  JAVA 


(19) 

(a) 

Sacred 

to  the  Memory 

of 

Frai^cis  Inglis  Esqr. 

of  the  Civil  Service 

At  Fort  Marlborough 

Who  died  on  the  17th  June  1814 

Aged  39  Jears. 

Beloved  and  Lamented  bij  a  numerous 

Family  and  many  Friends. 

(b) 

In 

Memory  of 

AiTN  Herries  Johnstone 

Christened  April  17th  1790 

and 

Departed  this  Life 

on  the 

9th  June 

1795. 

(c) 

Sacred 

To  the  Memory  of 

William  Cox 

Born  10th  December  1802  ; 

Died  on  the  9th  October  1804. 

id) 

Sacred 

To  the  memory  of 

Phillip  Cox 

Born 
27th  May  1804 

Died 
16th  Juli  1804. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  615 

On  the  monument  of  Parr  : — 

(20) 

Richard  Watts  Esqr. 

Some  time  of  Council  for  the 

R*  Hon^''"  Comp.  affairs  -     • 

in  Fort  S*'  George 

and  in  the  Year  1699  came 

over  Deputy  Govern' 

of  this  Place 

and  in  ab'  three  Years  after 

made  by  Commission  from 

the  Company  the  First 

President  of  this  Coast 

In  v^^  Station  he  departed 

this  life  Decemb"^  17  1705  and 

in  the  44th  Year  of  his  age. 

(21) 

Underneath  this  obelisk  are  interred 
the  Remains  of 

Captain  Robert  Hamilton 

Who  died  on  the  15th  of  Dec'  1793 

at  the  Age  of  38  Years 

in  the  command  of  the  Troops 

and 

Second  Member  of  the  Government. 

Grave-stone  in  Fort  Marlborough. 

(22) 

Here 
Are  deposited  the  Remains  of 

Charles  Murray  Esqr. 

Assistent  to  the  Residency  (?)  of  Fort  Marlborough. 

His a  Progress 

of  the  Band  of  Assassins  - 

on  the  Night  of  the  .  .  .  December  1807 

when  Thomas  Parr  Esq' 

Resident  at  Bencoolen  .  .  . 

Representative  of  Government 

fell  by  their  misguided  Duty  (?). 


616  JAVA 

His  humane  care  preserved  the  Life  of 
The  widow  of     ...     his     ...     nd 

Wounded  in  com her  husband 

from  the  Daggers  of  the  Assassins 

Dis     I     -,    i    induced  by  anxious  and  unceasing  Execution 
in  the  zealous  Discharge  of  his  public  Duty 
(dimine)  a  Season  of  Danger  and  Alarm 
^  removed  (?)  this  Life 

on  the  7th  of  January  1808 
Aged  21  Years. 

In  Memory 
of  his  brave  and  humane  Conduct 

and  of  his  public  Services 
The  Right  Honourable  Lord  Minto 

Governor  General  in  Council 
caused  this  Monument  to  be  erected. 

To  the  Memory  of 
Charles  Murray  Esquire. 


(23) 

Here  are  Deposited 

The  Remains 

of 

Thomas  Parr  Esquire 

in  life 

the  representative 

assassins 

in' the  night     ....     of  December. 


and  advantage  to 

His  Employers 

The  Right  Honourable  Gilbert  Lord  Minto 

Governor  General  in  Council 

has  ordered 
that  this  marble  be  erected 
to  his  Memory. 

Lindeman,  Sot. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  617 


This  Stone 
Is  added  ad     .     .     the     .     .     . 
The of 

Thomas  Parr  Esquire 


Widow 

Will 

Time  shall  be  no  more. 

Lindeman,  Set. 

Notes. 

(1)  This  list  was  prepared  from  the  grave-stones  by  W.  Bakker 
in  1912. 

(2)  According  to  the  Memoir  of  the  Life  and  Public  Services  of 
Sir  T.  S.  Raffles  by  his  widow,  page  298,  Vol.  II.,  nearly  all  the 
stones  came  from  Calcutta. 

(3)  Grave-stone  No.  3  was  probably  not  cut  by  an  Englishman, 
as  U  in  the  word  "  daughter  "  is  each  time  given  as  N. 

(4)  On  grave-stone  No.  18  it  is  not  clear  whether  Hull  or  Hall 
is  intended.  From  page  16,  Vol.  I.,  of  the  Memoir  the  name 
appears,  however,  to  be  Hull. 

(5)  Grave-stone  No.  19  is  really  a  four-sided  tomb,  as  commonly 
in  vogue  a  century  ago  for  distinguished  persons. 

(6)  No.  20  is  a  grave-stone  placed  incorrectly  on  the  monument 
of  Parr. 

(7)  In  Fort  Marlborough  there  are  other  English  graves,  but 
the  inscriptions  on  two  of  them  are  apparently  illegible. 

(8)  For  grave-stone  No.  9  see  page  332  of  Memoir. 

(9)  The  names  in  the  corners  of  the  stones  seem  to  be  those  of 
the  sculptors. 

Singapore  (Malay  Peninsula). 

As  the  history  of  Java  in  the  nineteenth  century  has  been 
a  good  deal  bound  up  with  the  name  of  Raffles,  it  seems 
scarcely  appropriate  in  giving  this  small  account  of  the 
different  places  of  importance  in  the  Dutch  East  Indies  to 
leave  out  the  neighbouring  British  settlement  of  Singapore, 
the  acquisition  of  which  was  due  to  Raffles,  and  was  indeed 


618 


JAVA 


the  greatest   achievement   of  his   life.     A   few  notes   are 
therefore  here  given. 

The  population  of  Singapore  in  1819,  when  the  British 
flag  was  first  hoisted,  consisted  of  only  300  Malays.  In  a 
few  years  it  had  grown  to  20,000,  made  up  as  follows  : — 


Classes. 

Male. 

Female. 

Total. 

Europeans         ...... 

91 

28 

119 

Indo-Britons     ...... 

56 

40 

96 

Native  Christians       .          .          .          . 

167 

133 

300 

Armenians         ...... 

27 

8 

35 

Jews         ....... 

2 

— 

2 

Arabs       ....... 

96 

— 

96 

Chinese     ....... 

7,650 

867 

8,517 

Malays     ....... 

3,673 

3,368 

7,131 

Natives  of  Coromandel  and  Malabar  coasts  . 

1,762 

57 

1,819 

Bengalis  ....... 

389 

11 

400 

Natives  of  Celebes,  Bugis  and  Balinese 

794 

932 

1,726 

Javanese            ...... 

361 

234 

595 

Siamese    ....... 

5 

2 

7 

Negroes    ....... 

23 

14 

37 

The  names  of  most  of  the  principal  Englishmen  living 
here  in  1822  are  given  at  the  end  of  this  section.^ 

Inl824there  were  twelve  mercantile  houses,  all  connected 
with  Batavia  or  Calcutta.  In  1832  there  were  twenty 
European  mercantile  houses  in  Singapore,  namely,  seventeen 
British,  one  Portuguese,  one  German,  and  one  American  ; 
while  there  were  also  three  large  Armenian  mercantile 
establishments.  Of  all  these  houses  only  that  of  Guthrie 
&  Co.,  which  opened  in  1821,  exists  to-day. 

When  a  European  merchant  in  those  days  wished  to  make 
a  shipment  of  produce  to  England  he  visited  the  bazaar  and 
purchased  the  articles  he  required  from  the  Chinese  in 
exchange  for  others  that  had  been  consigned  to  him.  In 
1832  there  were  no  Government  buildings  of  any  importance 
except  the  gaol,  a  square  white  building  erected  in  a  swamp 


^  Also  some  other  interesting  particulars  of  a  later  date,  and  some  notes 
on  Penang  and  Malacca. 


THE   TOWNS   IX   JAVA,    ETC.  619 

at  the  back  of  the  town,  and  a  small  stone  hospital  situated 
near  the  Circular  Road.  The  court-house  was  built  as  a 
dwelHng  by  an  English  merchant,  from  whom  it  was  rented 
by  the  Government.  Government  House  was  on  a  hill  at 
the  back  of  the  town  and  was  built  by  Raffles  in  a  fort- 
night, and  was  therefore  not  very  substantial.  At  this 
period  Malay  pirates  swarmed  in  the  neighbourhood  6f 
Singapore. 

The  numerous  islands  around,  the  intersecting  channels 
of  which  were  kno^vn  only  to  themselves,  afforded  them  a 
safe  retreat,  whence  they  could  pounce  down  upon  the 
defenceless  trading  craft  and  drag  them  into  their  lairs  to 
plunder  at  their  leisure.  Their  organisation  was  highly 
perfected,  more  so  even  than  that  which  formerly  obtained 
among  the  buccaneers  of  America.  Some  petty  chief  of  one 
of  the  Malay  states  who  had  either  been  ruined  by  gambling 
or  was  desirous  of  improving  his  fortunes  would  collect  under 
his  banner  as  many  restless  spirits  as  he  could  and  sail  for 
one  of  the  most  retired  islands  near  Singapore.  Here  he 
erected  a  village  as  a  depot  for  slaves  and  plunder,  and  then 
lay  in  wait  with  his  armed  praams  near  frequented  waters 
for  the  native  trader  passing  to  and  fro  from  Singapore.  If 
the  chief  was  successful  his  village  soon  became  a  town, 
while  his  fleet  of  praams  became  so  numerous  as  to  be  sub- 
divided into  squadrons  which  took  long  cruises.  They 
sailed  in  fleets  of  from  three  to  twenty,  which  were  armed 
with  guns,  large  and  small,  and  each  praam  carried  fifteen 
to  forty  men.  The  vessels  that  were  captured  were  brought 
to  their  settlement,  plundered  and  burnt,  the  goods  being 
taken  to  Singapore  for  sale.  The  unfortunate  natives  who 
were  captured  were  carried  to  Lingen  and  sold  to  the  Malays 
to  cultivate  the  Sumatra  pepper  plantations.  A  glance  at 
the  old  Singapore  papers  will  show  to  what  an  extent  the 
system  prevailed,  and  for  every  case  recorded  probably 
there  were  ten  unrecorded,   as  it  rarely  happened   that 


620  JAVA 

anyone  returned  to  tell  the  tale.  These  pirates  existed 
until  Admiral  Keppel  cleared  them  out.  One  of  the  cases 
that  created  a  great  sensation  at  the  time  occurred  off 
Indramayoc,  Java,  when  an  English  merchant  named 
Stephen  Timewell  was  killed  while  he  was  leaving  Pama- 
noekan  for  Batavia  in  August,  1828,  with  a  large  sum  of 
money  for  the  purchase  of  sundry  produce  and  articles. 
The  news  of  the  passage  of  this  money  had  reached  a  famous 
piratical  chief,  Eajah  Raga,  who  with  a  sufficient  number  of 
praams,  cruised  about  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Indramayoc 
several  days  beforehand  on  the  look-out  for  the  small  brig 
owned  by  Timewell.  The  crew  of  this  vessel  consisted  of 
two  Englishmen,  the  captain  and  the  chief  officer,  and  about 
thirty  Javan  seamen,  who  together  with  the  owner  defended 
the  vessel  for  some  time  until  all  their  ammunition  was 
exhausted.  Towards  the  evening,  however,  Timewell  was 
killed  by  a  spear  fired  from  a  musket,  and  the  pirates,  taking 
advantage  of  the  resulting  confusion,  immediately  boarded 
the  brig.  The  two  remaining  Englishmen,  knowing  full 
well  that  certain  death  awaited  them,  threw  themselves 
overboard,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  a  bamboo  fishing 
buoy,  a  number  of  which  are  always  moored  near  this  spot. 
The  pirates,  too  busily  employed  plundering  their  prize  to 
think  of  anything  else,  did  not  perceive  their  place  of  refuge, 
and  the  vessels  soon  drifted  out  of  sight.  The  two  men  had 
now  an  opportunity  of  considering  their  position,  which  was 
now  very  little  better.  They  were  immersed  to  their  necks,  and 
dreaded  every  moment  the  attack  of  sharks,  which  swarm 
on  the  coasts  of  Java  ;  nor  had  either  of  them  during  the 
whole  night  the  comfort  of  knowing  whether  liis  companion 
was  still  alive.  Shortly  after  daylight  appeared  fishermen 
were  perceived,  but  instead  of  rescuing  them  immediately 
the  Javans  first  consulted  together  and  then  demanded  who 
they  were.  Finding  they  were  Englishmen  whose  vessel 
had  been  attacked  by  pirates  and  captured,  they  were  taken 


MARKKT    AT    T.IILAT.TAU. 


sTUKKT    l.\    .^A.MAUANU.    SHOWING    CHUKCH. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  621 

on  board  and  kindly  treated,  being  eventually  brought  by 
the  fishermen  to  Indramayoc. 

As  a  reminiscence  of  this  we  find  in  the  Java  Government 
Gazette  of  the  8th  March,  1830,  the  following  notice  : — 

"  The  undersigned  trustees  of  the  estate  of  Stephen  Timewell, 
who  was  captured  by  pirates  on  his  passage  from  Pamanoekan 
to  Batavia  in  the  month  of  August,  1828,  request  that  all  persons 
having  claims  upon  his  estate  may  make  immediate  application 
towards  liquidating  the  same. 

"  Alexander  London, 
"  Wm.  Baxter. 
"  Batavia,  8th  March,  1830." 

This  Rajah  Raga  w^as  looked  for  for  years  by  English 
men-of-war,  and  on  one  occasion  while  cruising  with  three 
large  praams  he  was  attacked  by  one,  two  of  the  praams 
being  destroyed  with  their  crews  ;  but  the  third  escaped, 
and  on  this  was  the  rajah.  On  another  occasion  his  own 
praam,  which  carried  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
and  mounted  several  very  large  guns,  was  quietly  sailing 
near  Macassar  in  charge  of  his  favourite  panglima,  or  captain, 
when  a  ship  was  sighted,  which  was  fired  upon,  and  the 
panglima  prepared,  as  customary,  to  come  to  close  quarters, 
since  no  ship  could  withstand  such  a  large  praam.  To  the 
panglima's  surprise  and  dismay,  however,  a  long  line  of 
ports  opened  in  the  side  of  the  vessel,  and  he  found  himself 
under  the  rows  of  guns  of  a  British  man-of-war. 

The  panglima  hailed  the  man-of-war  and  endeavoured  to 
make  it  appear  that  he  had  acted  under  a  misapprehension 
and  in  self-defence,  but  a  subterfuge  was  useless  ;  the 
British  man-of-war  knew  the  praam  and  was  after  her,  and 
a  broadside  sank  her  in  one  minute,  with  her  whole  crew 
except  two  men,  who  clung  to  a  piece  of  wreck  and  were 
picked  up  by  a  native  praam. 

Shortly  after  the  introduction  of  steam  in  1827  a  well- 
armed  steam  vessel  plying  between  Singapore  and  Batavia 


622  JAVA 

was  attacked  by  a  large  armed  praam,  the  pirates  fancying 
she  was  a  brig  on  fire.     They  soon  found  out  their  mistake 
and  were  to  their  astonishment  pursued  and  sunk. 

Singapore  to-day  is  one  of  the  centres  of  the  commercial 
world,  with  huge  docks  worth  about  four  million  pounds 
sterling  and  affording  wharfage  for  a  large  number  of 
vessels  at  one  time  ;  there  are  commodious  godowns  and 
coal-sheds  along  the  wharf,  the  latter  with  a  capacity  for 
storing  50,000  tons  of  coal.  There  are  two  graving  docks— 
the  Victoria  Dock,  450  feet  long  and  65  feet  broad  at  the 
entrance,  and  the  Albert  Dock,  485  feet  long  and  60  feet 
broad  at  the  entrance.  There  is  a  population,  still  growing, 
of  2,000,000.  The  port,  if  reckoned  by  its  tonnage,  is  now 
the  seventh  in  the  world.  In  the  last  thirty  years  the  trade 
has  grown  from  5,000,000  dollars  to  20,000,000  dollars. 
There  are  a  number  of  churches  of  all  creeds  and  denomina- 
tions, many  clubs,  and  several  scientific  institutions.  In 
fact,  the  place  has  proved  Sir  Stamford  Eafiles'  wonderful 
foresight  and  his  excellent  choice  of  a  position. 

1,  List  of  British  Residents  in  Singapore  about  1822. 

Robert  Morrison,  D.D. 

Alexander  Laurie  Johnstone,  founder  of  the  house  of  A.  L. 
Johnstone  &  Co.  in  1820.i 

Hiigh  Syme,  founder  of  Syme  &  Co.,  of  Singapore,  1822,  Pit- 
cairn  Syme  &  Co.,  Java,  1825,  but  doing  business  in  Java  as  early 
as  1822  with  an  army  officer,  Captain  Campbell,  his  agent,  a 
partner,  who  died  there  in  1822. 

D.  S.  Napier,  of  the  firm  of  Napier  and  Scott. 

John  Argyle  Maxwell,  agent  for  G.  Maclaine  &  Co.,  Java,  from 
1822  to  1828. 

Nathaniel  Wallich. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Mclnnes. 

Captain  Flint,^  R.N.,  Sir  T.  S.  Raffles'  aide-de-camp. 

Captain  Davies,  Rev.  R.  Morrison,  Rev.  J.  Humphreys,  Rev.  D, 
Collie,  Rev.  R.  S.  Hutchin^s,  Rev.  O.  H.  Thompson,  Rev.  J.  Milton. 

William  Montgomery,  M.D. 

^  TMs  house  failed  in  1890,  thus  lasting  seventy  years. 
2  Formerly  of  Java,  buyer  of  the  land  Serondol. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  623 

O.  Finlayson. 

Samuel  Roberts,  printer. 

Hon.  E.  Phillips,  member  of  Council  (brother  of  the  former 
Resident  of  Macassar,  1811). 

Hon.  J.  Erskine,  member  of  CounoU. 

Rev.  G.  Burder. 

W.  A.  Hankey. 

G.  W.  Grommelin. 

G.  A.  Bonham,  son  of  Governor  of  Penang. 

Lieutenant  L.  N.  Hull. 

Lieutenant  P.  Jackson. 

David  Alexander  Eraser,  formerly  partner  in  Skelton  &  Co., 
of  Batavia,  which  ceased  on  the  31st  December,  1821  ;  afterwards 
partner  in  Macquoid,  Davidson  &  Co.,  Batavia,  and  now  managing 
partner  for  that  firm  here. 

G.  Mackenzie. 

Thomas  Howard. 

F.  J.  Bernard. 

Charles  Scott,  of  Napier  and  Scott,  probably  a  relative  of 
Robert  Scott,  of  Deans,  Scott  &  Co. 

G.  Gordon. 

John  Morgan,  brother  of  A.  Morgan,  both  partners  in  Paton, 
Morgan  &  Co.,  Batavia,  1822—1828. 

G.  R.  Read,  partner  in  A.  L.  Johnstone  &  Co. 

John  Purvis  (brother  of  W.  Purvis,  captain  of  a  ship  trading 
in  the  archipelago). 

A.  Guthrie,  founder  of  Guthrie  &  Co.,  1819. 

Alexander  Morgan,  merchant  of  Sourabaya,  1819,  and  a  brother 
of  John  Morgan  (founder  of  Paton,  Morgan  &  Co.,  1822—1828, 
and  Morgan,  King  &  Co.,  Batavia,  1829,  and  Morgan,  Melbourne 
&  Co.,  Batavia,  1833—1884). 

Alexander  Hay,  brother  of  Colin  Mackenzie  Hay,  partner  in 
the  house  of  Maclaine  &  Co.,  Batavia,  1822. 

2.  From  the  Day-book,  Singapore. 

1819,  May  29th.  In  laying  out  the  town  six  building  lots 
were  reserved  by  Raffles — one  for  Carnegy  &  Co.,  Penang,  one 
for  F.  Ferrao,  one  for  Thomas  Macquoid,  one  for  Captain  Flint, 
and  two  to  be  disposed  of  by  Raffles  himself. 

3.  List  of  Occupiers  of  Lands,  Singapore,  July,  1821. 

Claude  Querros.  A.  L.  Johnstone. 

J.  Carnegy.  J.  Morgan. 

Scott  and  Napier.  A.  Guthrie. 

Christie.  G.  Mackenzie. 


624 


JAVA 


List  of  Occupiers  of  Land,  Singapore — {continued). 


Williamson. 
Lackersteen. 
Hay  Mackenzie. 
F.  Ferrao. 
J.  Almeida. 
Baron  Jamearie. 
F.  J.  Bernard. 
Dunn. 

Captain  Flint. 
Lieutenant  Crossley. 
Captain  Methven. 
Lieutenant  Davis. 
Colonel  Farquhar. 
George  Armstrong. 
Thomas  Owen  Crane. 


John  Dalton. 
A.  Guthrie. 
Hugh  Syme. 
Graham  Mackenzie. 
J.  A.  Maxwell. 
A.  L.  Johnstone. 
John  ConnoUy. 
William  Spottiswoode. 
H.  F.  Hansen. 
T.  H.  Bell. 
Francis  Cox. 
Daniel  Hawthorn. 
H.  Gilbert. 
R.  Macquire. 


4.  List  of  Magistrates  of  Singapore,  1st  February,  1823. 


Alexander  L.  Johnstone. 
James  Argyle  Maxwell. 
David  S.  Napier.^ 
A.  Read.i 
Claude  Queiros. 
Charles  Scott. 
John  Purvis. 
Alexander  Morgan. 


D.  Clark. 
John  Morgan. 
Alexander  Hay. 
A.  Guthrie. 
A.  Farquhar. 
J.  King. 
G.  Mackenzie. 


In  1823. 

C.  R.  Read  ;    Hon.  Company  :    James  Lumsdaine,  Nathaniel 
Wallich,  and  Captain  Francis  Salmond. 


5.  List  of  Merchants  of  Singapore,  1824. 


Alexander  Laurie  Johnstone  & 
Co,  (for  self  and  J.  Crawford). 
C.  Thomas. 
G.  Mackenzie. 
Hugh  Syme. 
Isaiah  Zacheriah. 
Spottiswoode  and  Conolly. 


Charles  Scott  (for  self  and  D.  S. 

Napier). 
Guthrie  and  Clarke. 
John  A.  Maxwell. 
Morgan,  Hunter  &  Co. 
Andrew  Farquhar. 


In  1819  a  writer  in  the  Company's  service,  Bencoolen. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  625 

6.  Owners  of  Land  in  Singapore,  January,  1824. 

John  Palmer,  of  Calcutta. ^  John  Morgan.^ 

G.  D.  H.  Larpent,  of  Calcutta.^     Hon.  J.  J.  Erskine,  member  of 

Captain  Murray,   commanding         CouncO,  Penang.^ 

officer.  2  J.  A.  Maxwell. ^ 

A.  Hay.3  Pearl.3 

Colonel  Farquhar.2  Carnegy,  of  Penang.^ 

A.  Farquhar.3  Baretto  &  Co.,  of  Calcutta. ^ 

F.  J.  Bernard.2  T.  King.^ 

Captain  Davies.^  C.  R.  Read.^ 

Captain  Flint.  ^  Captain  Howard.  ^ 

Lieutenant  P.  Jackson. ^  Captam  Methven.^ 

S.  G.  Bonham.2  Captain    Salmond,    of    Ben- 
Asst.  Surgeon  Montgomery. ^  coolen.^ 

Queiros.3  Captain  Harrington.^ 

Mackenzie. 3  J.  Clark. ^ 

Napier."  F.  G.  Maclaine.^ 

Hay.3  Fletcher.3 

Scott.  3  Ryan.  2 

A.  Guthrie. 3  Rev.  Morrison.^ 

J.  Purvis. 3  Rev.  Milton.^ 

A.  L.  Johnston. 3  Rev.  Thomsen.* 
Captain  Almeida. ^ 

7.  Principal  Merchants  of  Singapore,  1826. 

Charles  Chester.  John  Argyle  Maxwell. 

Thomas  Davis.  William  Paton. 

James  Innes.  William  Scott. 

Alexander  Laurie  Johnston.  John  Spottiswoode. 

Alexander  Kyd  Lindsay.  Hugh  Syme. 

William  Gordon  Mackenzie.  William  Vincent. 

(All  commissioners  of  the  peace.) 

8.  List    of   Public    Servants    and    European   Inhabitants 
Residing  at  Singapore,  March,  1827. 

Honourable  John  Prince,  Esq.,  Resident  Councillor. 

Edward  Presgrave,  Esq.,  deputy  Resident. 

S.  G.  Bonham,  Esq.,  assistant  Resident. 

Rev.  R.  Burn,  chaplain. 

Captain  W.  Flint,  R.N.,  master  attendant  and  port-master. 

^  Non-resident  merchant. 

2  Government  ofl&cer. 

3  Resident  mercliant. 
*  Missionaries. 

J. — ^VOL  I.  S  S 


626 


JAVA 


Captain  C.  E.  Davis,  garrison  staff. 

Lieutenant  P.  Jackson,  executive  officer. 

W.  Montgomerie,  M.D.,  residing  assistant  surgeon. 

Extra  covenanted  servant  for  Bencoolen  :   R.  G.  Perreau. 

Assistants  attached  to  Resident's  and  Secretary's  office : 
J.  F.  Burrows,  W.  Herwetson,  J.  D.  Remedios. 

Accountant's  and  pay  office  :   R.  Winter,  T.  H.  Bell. 

Police  office  and  Convict  Department :  W,  Campbell,  J. 
Salmon,  W.  Holloway,  Henry  Gilbert  (constable),  Francis  Cox 
(constable),  Robert  Macquire  (constable),  Hilton  (overseer  of 
convicts). 

Master  attendant's  office  :  Edward  Coles,  John  Leyden 
Siamee. 

Post  Office  :   Edward  Coles. 

Commissioner's  Court  of  Requests  :  Edward  Presgrave  and 
S.  G.  Bonham  (commissioners),  W.  Holloway  (clerk),  Francis  Cox 
(bailiff). 

9.  Merchants  and  Houses  of  Agency  at  Singapore,  1827. 


Almeida  &  Co. 
Armstrong,  Crane  &  Co. 
J.  Dalton. 
A.  Farquhar. 
Guthrie  and  Clark. 
A.  L.  Johnstone  &  Co. 
Mackenzie  &  Co. 


Maxwell  &  Co. 

Morgans,  Hunter  &  Co. 

Napier,  Scott  &  Co. 

J.  Purvis. 

Spottiswoode,  Connolly  &  Co. 

Syme  &  Co. 

Thomas  &  Co. 


10.  Armenian  Merchants  and  Armenians  in  their  Employ, 

1827. 


Isaiah  Zechariah. 
Satoor  and  Stephen. 
Aristakus       Sarkis 

Manook. 
Carapit  Phanoos. 
Johannes  Simon. 


Sarkis  Aratoon  Sarkis. 
Seth     Avieth     Seth,     Andrew 
and       J.        Zechariah,  and  C.  P.  Zechariah 

(in     the     employ    of    Isaiah 

Zechariah). 


11.  European  Inhabitants,  1827. 

F.  J.  Bernard  (agent  to  Lloyd's  and  notary  public),  J.  Brown 
(employ  of  Messrs.  Mackenzie  &  Co.),  Jas.  R.  Bruce  (employ  of 
Messrs.  Armstrong  &  Co.),  George  D.  Coleman  (civil  architect), 
W.  Dunman,  Martinus  de  SUva  (employ  of  Lieutenant  Jackson), 
P.  F.  Douwe,  John  Ellis  (employ  of  Johnstone  &  Co.),  J.  Francis 
(tavern-keeper),  Frederick  Freeze,  James  Eraser  (employ  of 
Maxwell  &  Co.),  James  Gordon,  W.  R.  George  (employ  of  Thomas 
&   Co.),   John  Gummer,   H.   F.   Hansen,   D.   Hawthorn   (ship's 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  627 

carpenter),  A.  Hay  (of  the  firm  of  Johnston  &  Co.),  Stephen 
Hallpike,  C.  HoUoway,  Robert  Hunter  (of  Morgans,  Hunter  &  Co.), 
Thomas  Lardner  (in  Mr.  Temperton's  employ),  Thomas  Laby 
(punch-house  keeper),  James  Loch  (editor  of  the  Singapore 
Chronicle),  J.  Macintosh  (employ  of  Connolly  &  Co.),  W.  Merry- 
weather  (employ  of  Syme  &  Co.),  F.  de  SUva  Pinto  Maia  (Roman 
Catholic  priest),  Miguel  Matti( watchmaker),  S. Milton  (missionary), 
WUliam  Macdonald  (employ  of  Morgans,  Hunter  &  Co.),  A. 
Martin  (surgeon),  R.  Moore  (employ  of  Maxwell  &  Co.),  W.  Napier, 
R.  Napier,  W.  Page  (employ  of  Morgans,  Hunter  &  Co.),  W.  P. 
Paton  (of  the  firm  of  Morgans,  Hunter  &  Co.),  R.  E.  Pelling 
(employ  of  Guthrie  and  Clark),  Claud  Queiros  (agent  for  Palmer 
&  Co.),  C.  R.  Read  (of  the  firm  of  Johnston  &  Co.),  C.  Ryan 
(employ  of  Napier,  Scott  &  Co.),  W.  D.  Shaw  (of  the  firm  of 
Mackenzie  &  Co.),  S.  Sweeting  (employ  of  Syme  &  Co.),  Swinton 
(shipwright),  W.  Steward  (employ  of  Thomas  &  Co.),  G.  Solomon 
(employ  of  Johnston  &  Co.),  W.  Temperton  (shipwright),  Charles 
Thomas,  C.  S.  Thomas,  Josiah  Thomas,  C.  H.  Thomsen  (mis- 
sionary), Westerborgh  (punch-house  keeper),  John  Wright. 


12.  The  Singapore  Chamber  of  Commerce  :  Rfles,  1837,  and 
Copy  of  the  First  Chairman's  Circular  Letter. 

"  Singapore,  10th  March,  1837. 
"  The  Committee  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  which  has  been 
recently  established  at  this  place  under  the  designation  of  the 
*  Singapore  Chamber  of  Commerce,'  beg  to  wait  upon  you  with 
the  annexed  copy  of  the  Rules  of  the  Institution.  WhUe  tender- 
ing you  their  services  in  this  quarter,  in  whatever  department 
they  are  likely  to  be  useful,  the  Committee  solicit  at  the  same  time, 
the  communication  of  any  intelligence  of  a  mercantile  nature 
which  it  may  be  in  your  power  to  afford,  whether  bearing  upon 
the  general  interests  of  commerce,  or  calculated  in  particular  to 
affect  those  of  this  Settlement ;  as  well  as  your  assistance  in 
promoting  in  any  other  way  the  object  of  the  Chamber.  The 
Committee  will  be  gratified  also  by  the  receipt  of  any  printed 
statements  of  Trade,  or  official  documents  of  the  like  description, 
which  may  be  published  for  general  information,  or  are  procurable, 
in  your  quarter,  and  which  it  may  be  in  your  power  to  transmit. 

"  I  am.  Gentlemen, 

"  Your  most  obedient  Servant, 
"  Alex.  L.  Johnston, 
"  Chairman." 
ss2 


628  JAVA 

PROCEEDINGS    AT    THE    ESTABLISHMENT    OF    THE    SINGAPORE 
CHAMBER   OF   COMMERCE. 

"  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Merchants,  Agents,  and  others  interested 
m  the  trade  of  Singapore,  convened  by  circular,  and  held  at 
the  Reading-Room  on  Wednesday  the  8th  February,  1837,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  establish- 
ing a  Chamber  of  Commerce  at  this  Settlement, 

"A.  L.  Johnston,  Esqre.,  in  the  Chair, 
"  It  was  proposed  by  Ellis  James  Oilman,  Esqre,,  seconded  by 
R.  C.  Healey,  Esqre.,  and  Unanimously  Resolved, — 
"  1st.  That  an  Association  be  formed  under  the  designation  of 
*  The  Singapore  Chamber  of  Commerce,'  for  the  purpose 
of  watching  over  the  commercial  interests  of  the  Settle- 
ment. 
"  Proposed  by  Edward  Boustead,  Esqre.,  seconded  by  W.  S. 
Lorrain,  Esqre.,  and  Unanimously  Resolved, — 
"  2nd.  That   all   Merchants,    Agents,    Ship-owners,   and  others 
interested  in  the  trade  of  the  place,  be  eligible  to  become 
Members  of  this  Association. 
"  Proposed  by  Thos.  Scott,  Esqre.,  seconded  by  J.  S.  Clark, 
Esqre.,  and  Unanimously  Resolved, — 

"  3rd.  That  a  Provisional  Committee  be  now  appointed  to  draw 
up  Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  government  of  the 
Chamber,  and  to  report  thereon  to  a  general  Meeting 
to  be  convened  as  soon  as  the  same  are  prepared. 
"  Proposed  by   W.    S.   Duncan,   Esqre.,   seconded  by   Lewis 
Eraser,  Esqre.,  and  Unanimously  Resolved, — 
"  4th.  That   the    said    Provisional    Committee    consist    of    the 
following  five  gentlemen  : — 
Edward  Boustead,  Esqre. 
Thomas  McMicking,  Esqre. 
Alexander  Guthrie,  Esqre. 
Ellis  James  Oilman,  Esqre. 
William  Renshaw  George,  Esqre. 

"  (Signed)  A.  L.  Johnston, 

"  Chairman. 
"  (Signed)  E.  J.  Oilman, 

"  (Secy,  {pro  tern.).'' 


"  At  a  General  Meeting  of  the  Commercial  Community  of 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  629 

Singapore,  convened  by  public  Advertisement,  and  held  at  the 
Reading-Room,  this  day,  20th  February,  1837, 

"A.  L.  Johnston,  Esqre.,  in  the  Chair, 

"  The  following  Regulations  for  the  government  of  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce  of  Singapore,  prepared  by  the  Provisional  Committee, 
appointed  on  the  8th  instant,  were  unanimously  adopted  : — 

"  I,  That  the  Singapore  Chamber  of  Commerce  is  formed  for 
the  protection  of  the  general  interests  of  the  Trade  of  the  Settle- 
ment, for  collecting  and  classifying  mercantile  information,  for 
establishing  a  Court  of  Arbitration  to  adjust  commercial  differ- 
ences which  may  be  referred  to  it,  and  for  communicating  with 
the  public  authorities  on  all  subjects  affecting  the  common 
good. 

"  II.  That  all  Merchants,  Agents,  Traders,  Ship-owners, 
Commanders  of  Vessels,  and  others  interested  in  the  Trade  of 
Singapore,  be  eligible  to  become  members. 

"  Candidates  (subsequent  to  the  general  meeting)  to  be  admitted 
on  being  proposed  by  one  member  of  the  Committee  and  seconded 
by  another. 

"  III.  That  the  entrance  Fee  shall  be — 

For  each  firm    ....     Sp.  Drs.  15 
For  each  individual   .  .  .        ,,      ,,     10 

and  that  the  annual  subscription  (payable  in  advance)  shall  be— 
For  each  firm    .  .  .  .      Sp.  Drs.  12 

For  each  individual   .  .  .        ,,      ,,       9 

"  IV.  That  all  visitors  to  Singapore  interested  in  trade,  may 
become  honorary  members  for  3  months,  on  being  proposed  by 
one  of  the  committee  and  seconded  by  another ;  honorary 
members  to  have  no  vote. 

"  V.  That  the  affairs  of  the  Chamber  be  managed  by  a  Com- 
mittee of  11  members,  six  of  whom  shall  form  a  quorum — that 
all  questions  before  the  Committee  shall  be  decided  by  a  majority, 
the  Chairman,  Deputy  Chairman,  or  President  (where  the  votes 
are  equal)  having  a  casting  vote  :  that  no  two  members  of  the 
same  firm  shall  belong  to  the  Committee. 

"VI.  That  the  members  of  the  Committee  be  chosen  by  ballot 
at  the  first  general  meeting  to  be  holden  the  first  Wednesday  in 
February  ;  each  firm  to  have  two  votes,  and  each  individual 
one  vote  on  this  and  all  other  matters  submitted  to  a  General 
Meeting  ;  five  members  to  go  out  annually  by  lot,  but  to  be 
eligible  to  be  re-elected.     A  Chairman  and  Deputy  Chairman 


mo  JAVA 

shall  be  chosen  by  ballot  by  the  Committee  from  amongst  their 
own  number,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  Chairman  or  Deputy 
Chairman,  a  President  for  that  meeting  shall  be  chosen  from 
among  the  members  present. 

"  VII.  That  members  shall  not  be  allowed  to  vote  by  proxy  ; 
nor  if  their  subscriptions,  fines,  etc.  are  in  arrear. 

"  VIII.  That  it  shall  be  imperative  on  parties  elected  to  serve 
on  the  Committee  under  a  penalty  of  Sp.  Drs.  50  in  case  of  refusal. 

"  IX.  That  the  affairs  and  funds  of  the  Chamber  be  under  the 
direction  of  the  General  Committee,  which  shall  meet  at  11  o'clock 
a.m.  on  the  first  and  third  Tuesday  of  every  month,  and  at  such 
other  times  as  occasion  may  require.  The  Chairman  or  Deputy 
shall  have  the  power  of  calling  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  and 
it  shall  be  imperative  on  him  to  do  so,  on  a  requisition  being 
made  by  any  two  members  of  the  Committee,  who  shall  intimate 
in  writing  three  days  previously  (except  in  cases  of  emergency) 
the  business  to  be  brought  before  the  meeting. 

"  X.  That  all  orders  for  payments  out  of  the  Chamber  be 
countersigned  by  the  Chairman  or  Deputy,  or  by  three  members 
of  the  Committee,  .and  that  all  accounts  shall  be  audited  and 
submitted  to  the  inspection  of  the  members  of  the  Chamber. 

"  XI.  That  the  Committee  be  authorised  to  provide  a  con- 
venient place  for  the  meetings  of  the  Chamber,  appoint  a  Secretary 
and  determine  the  amount  of  his  salary  ;  appoint  a  Treasurer, 
pay  all  the  expenses  of  the  establishment,  and  control  the  manage- 
ment generally  of  the  Chamber. 

"  XII.  That  it  shall  be  imperative  on  the  members  of  the 
Committee  in  rotation  to  meet  (or  provide  a  substitute)  in  order 
to  constitute  a  quorum,  under  a  penalty  of  Sp.  Drs.  5  for  each 
case  of  non-attendance, 

"  XIII.  That  on  all  occasions  a  minority  on  a  division  in 
Committee  shall  have  the  right  to  state  their  reason  of  dissent 
in  the  records  of  the  day's  proceedings,  provided  the  same  be 
done  within  48  hours  of  the  closing  of  the  meeting,  and  a  certified 
copy  of  the  proceedings  of  such  meeting  shall  be  granted  the 
dissentients  if  required. 

"  XIV.  That  in  case  of  vacancy  in  the  Committee  it  shall  be 
filled  up  pro  tempore  by  the  Committee  until  the  next  general 
meeting,  and  that  they  have  the  power  to  appoint  a  sub- 
Committee  from  their  own  number  for  any  purpose  whatever. 

"XV.  That  the  office  be  opened  daily  from  11  to  1  o'clock, 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  631 

where  the  Secretary  or  his  clerk  shall  attend  ;  that  he  keep  a 
Journal  of  all  proceedings,  and  be  ready  to  communicate  with 
any  member  requiring  information  or  access  to  the  records  of 
the  office  ;  and  that  he  attend  to  such  other  duties  as  may  be 
required  by  the  Committee. 

"  XVI.  That  other  commercial  associations,  together  with  the 
houses  of  business  at  places  where  no  associations  are  established, 
be  invited  to  correspond  with,  and  communicate  information  to 
the  Chamber. 

"  XVII.  That  the  Chairman  or  Deputy,  or  any  three  members 
of  the  Committee,  or  any  six  members  of  the  Chamber,  shall 
be  empowered  to  convene  a  General  Meeting,  on  notifying  in 
writing  to  the  Secretary  the  purpose  for  which  such  meeting  is 
called,  three  days  previously. 

"  XVIII.  That  the  Committee  appoint  by  ballot  monthly, 
three  from  their  own  number,  to  decide  on  all  cases  submitted 
for  the  arbitration  of  the  Chamber  ;  that  their  power  shall  con- 
tinue so  long  as  any  business  brought  before  them  during 
their  period  of  service  is  undecided.  They  shall  not  proceed  in 
any  case  until  an  Arbitration  Bond  has  been  signed  by  both 
parties,  binding  themselves  to  abide  by  and  fulfil  their  decision. 

"  XIX.  That  Funds  to  provide  a  suitable  establishment,  and  to 
defray  requisite  expenses  shall  be  raised  in  the  following  manner : — 

"  By  entrance  fees  and  subscriptions  ;  by  fees  on  arbitrations 
and  references  as  the  Committee  may  hereafter  determine  ;  by 
voluntary  gifts  and  contributions  either  in  money,  maps,  books, 
or  anything  which  may  be  useful  to  the  Institution,  and  by  fees 
for  certified  copies  of  the  records  and  other  documents  of  the 
Chamber,  granted  by  the  Secretary. 

"  XX.  That  in  special  cases  the  Chamber  reserves  to  itself  the 
power  of  expelling  any  of  its  members,  by  a  majority  of  two- 
thirds  at  any  General  Meeting  convened  for  the  purpose,  fourteen 
days  previous  notice  being  given  by  the  Secretary  of  the  object 
of  the  meeting. 

"  XXI.  That  the  General  Committee  shall  make  such  bye-laws 
and  rules  as  they  may  deem  expedient. 

"  XXII.  That  these  Regulations  may  be  altered  by  a  majority 
of  two-thirds  at  any  General  Meeting  convened  for  the  purpose, 
fourteen  days  previous  notice  being  given  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
alteration  intended  to  be  proposed. 

"  XXIII.  That  in  the  event  of  any  question  arising  as  to  the 


632  JAVA 

construction  or  application  of  the  foregoing  Regulations,  the 
Committee  shall  be  empowered  to  decide  the  same." 


"  The  General  Committee  for  the  ensuing  year  was  then  chosen, 
consisting  of  the  following  Gentlemen,  who  were  b allotted  for 
separately  : — 

A.  L.  Johnston,  Chairman.  T.  Macmicking, 

A.  Guthrie,  Deputy  Chairman.    J.  Balestier, 
R.  C,  Healey,  Seyd  Abubaker, 

E.  J.  GiLMAN,  KiMGWAN,      and 

I.  Zechareah,  Gwanchuan. 

E.   BOTTSTEAD, 

"  The  objects  of  the  Meeting  having  been  carried  into  effect, 
thanks  were  voted  to  the  Chairman,  and  the  Meeting  closed. 

"A.  L.  Johnston, 

"  Chairman. 

"  E.    J.    GiLMAN, 

"  Secy,  (pro  tern.). 
"  Singapore,  20th  Feby.,  1837. 

"  printed  at  THE  SINGAPORE  FREE  PRESS  OFFICE." 

Prices  Current  at  Singapore,  11th  April,  1833. 

"  The  currency  in  which  commercial  transactions  are  circulated 
is  the  Spanish  dollar  divided  into  cents.  The  common  weight  is 
the  picul,  of  133|  lbs.  avoirdupoise,  divided  into  100  catties. 
Salt  and  rice  are  commonly  sold  by  the  koyan,  of  40  piculs  ; 
Java  tobacco  by  the  corge,  of  40  baskets  ;  and  gold  dust  by  the 
bunkal,  which  weighs  two  dollars,  or  is  equal  to  about  832  grains 
troy.  Bengal  rice,  wheat,  and  dhoU  are  sold  by  the  bag,  contain- 
ing two  Bengal  maunds,  and  Indian  piece  goods  by  the  corge,  of 
20  pieces. 

"  Owing  to  the  deficiency  of  the  circulating  medium,  very  few 
cash  transactions  take  place  in  this  market,  and  it  being  therefore 
impossible  to  give  the  cash  price  of  almost  any  article,  it  must  be 
observed  that  the  quotations  in  this  Price  Current  are  made  on 
the  principle  that  sales  are  effected  on  a  credit  of  two  or  three 
months,  for  paj^ment  in  produce.  Opium  is  generally  sold  for 
payment  in  gold  dust  and  tin  ;  Indian  piece  goods  for  gold  dust, 
tin  and  pepper,  in  two  or  three  months  ;  and  European  piece 
goods  for  coffee,  sugar,  tin,  tortoiseshell,  etc.,  etc.,  in  three  or  four 
months,  but  occasionally  in  immediate  barter. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  633 

Prices  Current  at  Singapore — continued. 


Eastern  Articles. 

Per. 

Price. 

Remarks. 

Eastern  Articles. 

Spanish  Dollar.s. 

Bees'  Wax          .          .          ... 

Picul 

28 

30 

Beclie  de  Mer  : 

Isle  of  France 

>> 

40 

SO 

1st  sort 

20 

25 

Inferior 

»» 

6 

10 

Benjamin  . 

10 

50 

Betel-nut  . 

>> 

H 

2 

Birds'  Nests  : 

White 

Catty 

30 

45 

Black. 

Picul 

30 

200 

Camphor  : 

Bams 

Catty 

10 

30 

China. 

Picul 

30 

35 

Canvas,  Bengal  . 

Bolt 

4 

6 

Cassia  Lignea     . 

Picul 

12 

14 

Coffee: 

Java 

>» 

9 

10 

Sumatra 

>> 

9 

n 

Other  Descriptions 

>> 

9 

n 

Copper  : 

Japan 

>» 

28 

30 

Peruvian     . 

tt 

23 

25 

Cordage,  Coir 

„ 

H 

5 

Cotton 

Bale 

20 

25 

Dammar,  Raw   . 

Picul 

1 

li 

Dholl 

Bag 

2i 

3 

Dragon's  blood  : 

1st  sort 

Picul 

— 

— 

inferior 

„ 

10 

30 

Ebony : 

Isle  of  France 

Picul 

3 

H 

Of  other  parts 

„ 

2 

n 

Elephants'  Teeth  : 

1st  sort 

»> 

100 

120 

2nd     „ 

,, 

90 

100 

3rd     „ 

>» 

60 

80 

Gambler  : 

Rhio  and  Singapore 

>> 

3^ 

4 

Slack 

>» 

6 

— 

Gamboge  . 

»» 

20 

50 

Ghee: 

Cow    . 

„ 

14 

16 

Buffaloe       .      ,    . 

»> 

12 

14 

Grain  : 

Rice  :  White 

Koyan 

80 

85 

Cargo — 1st  sort    . 

„ 

70 

75 

Inferior    . 

,, 

60 

65 

Bengal     . 

Bag 

2i 

2i 

Wheat 

,, 

3i 

3i 

Gram 

,, 

60 

62 

Gold  Dust  of  Pahang  and  Si 

ack 

Bunkal 

30 

30J 

634  JAVA 

Prices  Current  at  Singapore — continued. 


Eastern  Articles. 


Price. 


Remarks. 


Gold  Dust  of  other  parts 

Gunnies 

Mother  of  Pearl  Shells 

Nankeens  : 

Long  Junk  . 

Short  „ 
Oil,  Cocoanut 
Opium  : 

Patna 

Benares 

Malwa 
Pepper : 

Black. 

\Aniit€ 

Long  . 

PIECE   GOODS  : 

Bengal  Sannahs 

Mahmoodies 
Gurrahs  : 
Large 
SmaU 
Bengal  Baftas 

Chintzes  of  12  cubits 
of  10  cubits 
Kurwahs 
Madras  Moories  : 

White      . 
Blue 
„         Salempores : 
Blue 
Brown 
„        Handkerchiefs 
„        Kolamkories 
„         Kambayas  . 
Bugis  Sarungs 
Bali  Cloths      . 
Battick  Handkfs.     . 
Rattans,  Banjanmading 
Sago,  Pearl,  in  cases    . 
Salt: 

Siam  . 

Cochin  China 
Saltpetre   . 
Sapan  Wood  : 
Manila 
Siam  . 
Silk: 

Raw,  China  Junk 
Canton  No.  3 
Macao 


Bunkal 
Hundred  i 
Picul 

100  ps. 
Gorge 
Picul 


Picul 


Gorge 


Picul 

Coyan 
Picul 


72  Ctys. 
100      „ 
95      „ 


Spanish  Dollars. 

26   29 
8    10 

20   22 


35 

5* 


40 


Chest  I  720  730 
!  720  730 
!   600   — 


37 
30 

22 
14 

16 


38 
33 

24 
15 

18 


40 

60 

30 

80 

14 

24 

6 

8 

6 

16 

2f 

3 

2* 

3 

20 

24 

18 

20 

9 

— 

H 


310   320 

300   — 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC. 

Prices  Current  at  Singapore — continued. 


635 


Eastern  Articles. 

Per. 

Price. 

Remarks. 

Spices  : 

Spanish  Dollars. 

Nutmeg,  1st  &  2nd 

Picul 

75        90 

Cloves          .... 

>5 

20        25 

Mace  ..... 

»» 

125      130 

Stick  Lac  ..... 

99 

12        13 

Segars,  Manila    .... 

1,000 

5^        6 

Sugar  : 

Java            .... 

Picul 

5          54 

Siam,  1st  sort 

j» 

5|        6 

Manila         .... 

5          5J 

Cochin  China 

j> 

3          4 

Sugar-Candy       .... 

5» 

—        — 

Tin  :  Banca        .... 

J> 

14i      15 

Straits       .... 

>> 

14        14^ 

Tobacco  : 

Java            .... 

40Baskets 

150      200 

China.          .... 

Picul 

—       — 

Tortoiseshell       .... 

>> 

1,000  1,400 

Turmeric  : 

Java             .... 

>> 

—       — 

China.          .... 

>> 

—        — 

European  Articles. 

Ale :  Allsop's      .          .          .          . 

Hhd. 

38        40 

Bass's        .... 

?> 

38        40 

Hodgson's. 

>> 

35        40 

Barclay's 

25        30 

Anchors     ..... 

Picul 

11        12 

Bottles,  English. 

100 

4          4^ 

Canvas       ..... 

Bolt 

lOJ      12 

Copper,  Nails  and  Sheathing 

Picul 

38        40 

Cordage     ..... 

>> 

10        14 

Cotton  Twist : 

No.  16  to  36         .          .          . 

>5 

40        45 

„    38  „  70 

J> 

50        60 

„    40  „  80 

5> 

60        65 

Earthenware       .... 

—        — 

Glassware            .... 



—       — 

Gunpowder         .          .          .           | 

Canister 
(100  lbs.) 

}      20        60 

Grapnels    ..... 

Gal. 

—       — 

Flints 

Picul 

—       — 

Hardware,  Assorted    . 

— 

—       — 

Iron  : 

Swedish  Bar 

Picul 

5          5i 

English  Bar 

„ 

2i        2f 

Nail-rod       .... 

>> 

2J        3 

Lead  :  Pig          .... 

j> 

5          6 

Sheet      .... 

,, 

6          7 

Oilman's  Stores 

— 

—       — 

Patent  Shot        .... 

Bag 

—        — 

Paints  :  White  .... 

Cwt. 

—       — 

636  JAVA 

Prices  Current  at  ^mG^^on^-continued. 


European  Articles 


Paints:  Black    . 
Green    . 
Paint  Oil  . 
Provisions  : 

American  Beef 
do.     Pork 
English  Beef 
do.       Pork 
Biscuits 
Flour 
Eosin 
Spelter 
Steel:    Swedish. 

English 
Tar :  Stockholm 
Coal. 


PIECE   GOODS  : 

Madapolams,  25  yds.  by  32  ins 
Imitation   Irishes,   25   yds 
36  ins.      .  .  .  ' 

Long  Cloths  : 

Yards.  Inches. 

38  a  40  by  36  to  37 


Prints 

7—: 


38 

44. 

50 

64 

60 


40 


i     Lt. 

colours 
9—8     do. 
7—8  Dark 
9—8     do. 


Grounds, 

*  do. 
do. 
do. 


7—8  &  9—8,  2  clrs. 
9—8  Turkey-red  gd.,  24  yds. 
7 — 8  Furniture,  28  yds. 
9—8        do.       24  yds. 
Cambrics  : 

12  yds.  42  a  44  ins.    . 
12  yds.  45  do. 
Jaconets,  20  do.  by  44  a  46  do 
Lappets,  10  do.  by  40  a  44  do. 
Handkerchiefs  : 
Imitation  Battick 
Pulicat 

WOOLLENS  : 

Long  Ells,  all  Scarlet 
Camblets  do. 

Striped  Lists,  17  a  18  yds.  by 
60  mches,  all  Scarlet. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  637 

Prices  Current  at  Singapore — continued. 


European  Articles. 

Per. 

Price. 

Remarks. 

Spanish  Dollars. 

WINES    AND    SPIRITS  : 

Sherry    ..... 

Dozen 

6          8 

Madeira  (unsaleable) 

—       — 

Port 

j» 

7          9 

Claret :    Frencli 

j> 

4          6 

English 

8        10 

Arrack  : 

Ist  sort,  Batavia 

Gallon 

—        — 

2nd  sort,  Batavia 

>> 

14        16 

Brandy,  Cognac 

1          4i 

Kiim       ..... 

,, 

Gin 

Case 

5          5\ 

Fri 

:iGHTS. 

To  London,  Sugar  . 

£3  to  £3  10s.  per  20  Cwt. 

Tin       .          . 

£1  7s.  to  £1  10s.  per  20  Cwt. 

„          Coffee  . 

£4  to  £4  10s.  per  18  Cwt. 

Pepper 

£4  10s.  to  £5  per  16  Cwt. 

„          Measurement  good 

Is 

£4  to  £6  per  50  cubic  feet. 

„          Treasure 

IJ  per  cent. 

To  Calcutta     . 

Rs.  ^  to  1  per  Picul, 

To  Batavia 

Guilders  per  Picul. 

To  China 

Sp 

.  Drs.  1  to  1  per  Picul. 

From  Your  Most  Obedient  Servant, 

"  Edward  Boustead. 


Statement  of  Nutmeg  Plantations  at  Singapore, 
Total  Number  of  Trees  in  1848. 


SHOWING 


Proprietors. 

Districts. 

Total  Number  of 
Trees. 

A.  Guthrie  i     .          .          . 

Tanjong  Pagar 

2,250 

W.  Montgomerie 

do. 

1,800 

Joaq  Almeida  . 

do. 

700 

Government 

Claymore 

765 

D.  T.  Oxley 

do. 

4,050 

C.  R.  Prinsep 

do. 

6,700 

T.  Hewetson 

do. 

1,515 

C.  Carnie 

do. 

3,500 

W.  Cuppage 

do. 

1,250 

*  Founder  of  Guthrie  &  Co. 


638  JAVA 

Statement  of  Nutmeg  Plantations  at  Singapore — continued. 


Total  Number  of 

Proprietors. 

Districts. 

Trees. 

W.  Scott 

Claymore 

5,200 

C.  Carnie 

do. 

870 

Jose  Almeida  . 

do. 

1,023 

D.  M.  J.  Martin 

do. 

1,530 

W.  W.  Willans 

Tangling 

1,600 

E.  B.  Leicester  ^ 

do. 

800 

E.  Leicester  i 

do. 

400 

W.  Leicester  ^ 

do. 

250 

W.  Montgomerie 

Kalang 

510 

F.  Sorabjee 

Eochor 

12 

Syed  Allie 

do. 

600 

Sir  J.  d' Almeida 

Sirangong 

4,000 

T.  Dunman 

do. 

1,000 

J.  I.  Woodford 

Bur  kit  Timor 

600 

Chinese   . 

— 

7,000 

C.  Nicol  . 

Total      . 

8,000 

55,925 

Singapore,  24th  Jidy,  1848. 

13.  List  showing  the  Number  of  Spice  Plants  imported  in 
Penang  from  the  Moluccas  during  1800 — 1801. 


Cloves. 

Nutmegs. 

Corn- 

Date. 

Ships. 

English- 

d 

^ 

uS 

^ 

men). 

a 

% 

C4 

o 

a 

•a 

o 

>J 

02 

m 

H 

^ 

m 

H 

1800. 

March  30 

— 

George 





3,647 

3,647 

May 

Thomas 

Young 

1,286 

7,265 

— 

8,851 



3,587 

3,587 

June  18. 

Bangalore 

Lynch 

1,108 

— 

— 

1,108 



3,497 

3,497 

Aug.  23 . 

Unicorn 

Langland 

826 

1,253 

— 

2,079 

421 

2,623 

3,044 

Ruby 

Sinclair 

163 

364 

— 

527 

100 

— 

100 

I80I. 

July  11  . 

Bangalore 

Lynch 

— 

— 

— 

— 

504 

— 

504 

Sept.  1  . 

Expedition 

Peterson 

46 

~~ 

""• 

46 

305 

13,783 

14,088 

3,429 

8,882 

3,647 

15,958 

1,330 

23,490 

24,820 

Nutmegs    . 

24,820 

Cloves 

15,958 

Gra 

ndTot 

al 

• 

40,778 

Came  from  Bencoolen. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,    ETC.  639 

14.  Lists  of  Civil  Servants  at  Penang  in  1805. 

Pay. 

Philip    Dundas    (Government    House)    (rent  S 

S4,000 32,000 

John  Hope  Oliphant  (second  in  Council)         .  18,000 

Alexander  Gray  (third  in  Council)          .          .  18,000 

Colonel  Norman  Macalister  (4th  in  Council)    .  18,000 

Rev.  Atwill  Lake  (chaplain)          .          .          .  6,400 

Henry  Shepherd  Pearson  (secretary)      .          ,  8,000 

Thomas  Stamford  Raffles  (assistant  secretary)  6,000 

James  Phillip  Hob  son  (accountant)        .          .  8,000 
William  Robinson    (assistant  :    accompanied 

Raffles  to  Java)        .....  6,000 

Quinton  Dick  Thomson  (warehouse  keeper)    .  6,000 
W.   E.  Phillips    (collector    of    customs    and 

revenue)           ......  6,000 

John  Erskine  (assistant  to  the  superintendent)  6,000 
W.  William  Dick  (surgeon)  .          .          .          .10,720 

Henry  Waring  (assistant  surgeon)          .          .  3,000 

James  Derrot  (assistant  surgeon)            .          .  3,000 

Nine  writers  at : — ■       .....  1,440 

Arthur  Tegart,  William  Bennet,  John  Curson 
Lawrence,  Robert  Ibbetson,  John  Thomas 
le  Mesurier  Sherwood,  William  Club  ley, 
John  Lyon  Phipps,  John  McAlister,  Alex- 
ander Ballantyne  Dick. 

Thomas  CuUum  (schoolmaster)  .         .         .  900 

15.  List  of  some  of  the  Merchants  at  Penang,  1806. 

W.  E.  Phillips.  James  Carnegy. 

James  Scott.  George  Seton. 

J.  P.  Hob  son.  John  Scott. 

16.  Coinage  of  Poelo  Pinang,  or  Penang. 

Very  soon  after  the  occupation  of  Penang  by  the  English, 
special  money  was  coined  in  Bengal  in  silver  and  copper  for  the 
island.  In  a  letter  from  Captain  Light  dated  the  20th  June, 
1788,  to  the  Governor-General  of  Bengal  a  report  was  made  of 
the  arrival  of  the  silver  money  for  Poelo  Pinang,  and  Light 
remarks  at  the  same  time  that  sUver  money  of  from  ten  dollars 
to  one  is  the  most  practical. 

It  is  not  certain  when  the  first  copper  was  sent  to  Penang,  but 
it  was  somewhere  about  the  same  date  as  the  silver.     The  first 


640  JAVA 

official  mention,  however,  is  on  the  10th  May,  1800,i  when  the 
Governor  of  Penang,  George  Leith,  mentions  that  the  Resident 
of  Bencoolen  had  sent  him  copper  money  to  the  value  of  500 
Spanish  Dollars. 

17.  Coinage  of  Malacca. 

The  earliest  introduction  of  European  money  into  the  East 
Indies  was  in  the  sixteenth  century,  and  was  termed  the  coinage 
of  Tanah  Malaloe, 

In  the  "Malayan  Peninsula  "^  it  is  noted  of  Albuquerque  that 
"  He  also  introduced  a  coinage  which  he  declared  current  by 
proclamation,  and  scattered  a  few  handfuls  amongst  the  crowd 
in  order  to  reconcile  them  to  the  change  of  dynasty." 

Cocos  Keeling  Islands. 

This  group  of  islands,  consisting  of  thrity-three  (Lieutenant 
van  der  Jagt,  of  the  Dutch  navy,  in  his  memoir  to  the 
Netherlands  India  Government  dated  December,  1829,  says 
only  thirty- two),  and  lying  in  the  Indian  Ocean  some  700 
miles  west  of  Sumatra  and  525  from  Christmas  Island  (their 
nearest  neighbour),  was  discovered,  it  is  generally  thought, 
in  1689  by  Captain  Keeling. 

This  can  hardly  be  the  Captain  William  Keeling  who  came 
to  the  East  first  as  a  boy  with  Captain  William  Hawkins,  and 
later  in  command  of  the  Consent,  a  vessel  of  105  tons,  to 
Bantam  in  1607.  On  one  of  the  said  Keeling's  voyages  in 
Java  waters  he  came  across  these  islands  which  bear  his 
name,  but  later  were  called  by  the  natives  Cocos  Islands  on 
account  of  the  great  supply  of  cocoanuts  always  to  be 
procured  here. 

In  1769,  in  an  old  record  from  Stockdale's  "  Java,"  we 
read  of  "  the  Klapper  or  Coco  Islands,  which  lie  on  the 
south  coast  of  Java  near  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  are  un- 
inhabited, and  are  only  occasionally  resorted  to  for  the  sake 
of  the  edible  nests  which  are  found  there,  but  they  are  said 

'  See  "  Journal  Indian  Archipelago,"  Vol.  V.,  page  161. 
Page  35. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  641 

to  be  greatly  infested  with  enormous  snakes."  This,  how- 
ever, I  fancy  refers  to  some  islands  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Straits  of  Sunda  called  Cocos  Islands,  and  not  Cocos  Keeling 
Islands. 

Before  the  English  occupation  of  Java  two  brothers, 
Lieutenant  John  Eoss^  and  Captain  George  Ross,  both 
officers  in  the  English  East  India  Company's  marine  service, 
"were  roaming  about  the  archipelago.  George,  who  com- 
manded the  ship  Malacca,  was  cut  off  by  pirates  in  1811 
near  the  island  of  Banca,  who  murdered  him  and  all  his 
crew.  John,  however,  came  to  Java  with  the  English  and 
carried  dispatches  and  troops  to  the  dependencies.  In  1816 
he  built  himself  a  ship,  it  has  been  said,  at  Tandjing  Priok, 
but  it  was  really  at  Rembang.  He  worked  night  and  day 
at  it  to  get  it  finished  before  the  Dutch  returned.  In  one 
of  his  early  cruises  he  had  discovered  the  Cocos  or  Keeling 
Islands  in  the  Indian  Ocean.  It  seems  he  had  heard  from 
some  Malays  of  their  existence.  When  the  English  left 
Java  he  refused  to  return  to  Calcutta  and  threw  up  the 
service.  One  day  he  arrived  at  Benkoelen  and  demanded 
of  Raffles  some  back  pay.  This  Raffles  could  not  give  him  as 
his  exchequer  was  empty,  but  he  gave  him  employment,  and 
Ross  made  Benkoelen  his  headquarters  for  a  year  or  two. 

In  1817,  however,  he  left  Benkoelen  wath  a  number  of 
Malays,  men  and  women,  after  a  dispute  with  Raffles,  and 
sailed  for  the  Cocos  Keeling  Islands.  His  intention  was  to 
colonise  the  islands  and  proclaim  himself  king.  On  his 
arrival,  however,  he  found  Alexander  Hare,  the  late  British 
Resident  of  Banjermassin,  in  possession  of  one  of  the  islands, 
called  Rice  Island,,  where  he  had  quite  a  little  colony  of 
Malays.  Ross  therefore  took  up  his  abode  on  Poeloe  Tikoes 
Island,  a  harbour  by  Port  Albion.  Hare,  after  a  dispute 
with  Ross,  left  for  Padang  in  his  ship  called  the  Johanna 

^  John  appears  to  have  assumed  the  name  Clunis  about  1830  ;  at  this 
time  there  happened  to  be  a  Joseph  Clunis  living  at  Batavia. 

J. — VOL.  I.  T  T 


642  JAVA 

Maria  Wilhelmina,  but  the  latter  remained,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son,  and  so  the  islands  have  descended  in 
the  family. 

John  Ross  returned  frequently  to  Java  and  undertook 
numerous  cruises  for  Gillian  Maclaine,  always  returning  at 
the  end  to  his  islands,  having  used  his  earned  money  in 
buying  all  the  necessaries  he  required  there. 

In  this  way  he  got  to  know  Gilhan  Maclaine,  and  offered 
to  take  his  ship  the  Regina  home  in  1840  when  Maclaine  was 
leaving  Java  for  good. 

This  ship  was  never  heard  of  again. 

It  is  interesting  to  learn  that  soon  after  John  Ross  had 
settled  down  in  the  Cocos  Islands  in  1817,  the  Dutch 
Government,  hearing  of  it,  sent  two  men-of-war  to  lay  claim 
to  them.  After  cruising  about  for  a  fortnight,  it  is  said, 
they  returned  with  the  news  that  the  islands  did  not  exist, 
or  if  they  did  were  too  small  to  be  of  any  importance. 

In  1832  the  settlement  was  reported  as  highly  prosperous, 
and  had  been  the  means  of  saving  many  lives  and  much 
valuable  property  several  times,  having  afforded  refuge  to 
vessels  in  distress.  British  men-of-war  passing  between 
New  South  Wales  and  India  generally  touched  there  for 
refreshment. 

In  April,  1857,  Captain  Granvelle  Freemantle  annexed 
these  islands  to  the  British  Crown.  To-day  they  are  of 
considerable  importance,  the  Eastern  Extension  Telegraph 
Company  having  a  cable  station  here,  and  ships  calling 
regularly  for  the  shipment  of  oil,  which  is  exported  in  large 
quantities  to  Singapore  for  transhipment  to  England.  The 
islands  have  been  always  known  for  providing  the  most 
delicious  bananas  in  the  Indies. 

The  grandson  of  the  original  John  Clunie  Ross,  by 
name  George,^  died  on  the  7th  July,  1910,  and  is  now 

'  George  Clunie  Ross  married  a  Javan  lady,  wliom  lie  called,  or  who  was 
called,  Ayeslia  ;    by  her  he  had  nine  children — John  Sydney,  Wilfred, 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,   ETC.  643 

succeeded  by  his  son,  who  rules  the  islands  as  Governor 
or  "  king."i 

Currency. 

There  is  no  currency  in  the  island  except  parchment  notes 
issued  by  Mr.  Ross  :  these  notes  are  issued  for  sums  of  a 
quarter,  half,  and  one,  two,  and  five  rupees  (the  rupee  being 
equivalent  to  Is.  M.). 

The  following  is  a  specimen  of  one  of  these  notes,  which 
are  all  alike  in  size  : — 

KEELING  COCOS 

1  ^  1823 

ISLANDS 

2   Exchange  for  the  sum  of   ;^ 

**^  One  Rupee  "^ 

Keeling  Cocos  Islands 

Currency 

1897.  G.  Clunies  Ross. 

As  the  natives  cannot  read  the  quarter  rupee  has  the  four 
corners  cut,  the  half  rupee  two  corners,  and  the  one  rupee 
one  corner  ;  the  two  and  five  rupees  are  uncut.  On  the 
7th  April  there  were  notes  to  the  value  of  1,500  rupees  in 
circulation. 

The  so-called  cheques  which  have  been  referred  to  in 
previous  reports  are  in  the  following  form  : — 

No 

KEELING  COCOS 

ISLANDS 


For  working Days  @ cents 

per 

C  190.. 

Edwin    Koland,    George   Dymoke,   Adelaide,    Mildred,    Florence,    Mabel 
Kempthorne,  and  Gertrude  Blom. 

'  I  have  a  more  or  less  complete  history  of  the  Ross  family,  and  especially 
of  the  sons,  that  came  to  the  East  Indies,  but  there  is  no  space  for  it  here. 

T  T  2 


644  JAVA 

These  cheques  or  vouchers  are  kept  by  the  labourers  until 
the  amount  for  which  they  are  available  has  been  debited 
against  them  for  goods  obtained  from  the  stores. 

Bat  A  VI A  AND  Pre  ANGER  Lands. 

Apart  entirely  from  the  estates  bought  from  the  Sultan 
of  Djoejakerta  and  the  Emperor  of  Soerakarta,  there  are 
434  estates  in  Java  held  in  absolute  free  ownership.  The 
history  of  some  of  these  freehold  estates  is  worth  relating. 

When  the  Dutch  came  first  to  Jacatra  in  1596  they 
immediately  perceived  the  advantages  that  would  accrue 
through  strengthening  themselves  at  this  place,  and  when 
the  English  appeared  in  1604  under  Sir  Henry  Middleton,  in 
his  ship  the  Red  Dragon,  the  Dutch  accordingly  strengthened 
themselves  here  with  an  additional  force. 

When  Captain  David  Middleton,  a  brother  of  Sir  Henry, 
built  the  factory  here  in  1610,  the  Dutch  garrison  had  taken 
such  proportions  that  the  Emperor  of  Java  was  fighting  a 
losing  battle,  despite  the  thousands  of  men  he  sent  to 
Jacatra  to  maintain  his  hold  on  the  place.  After  the  final 
taking  of  Jacatra  in  1619,  and  when  the  Dutch  power  had 
become  paramount,  part  of  the  neighbouring  country  which 
had  become  deserted  by  the  natives  before  an  implacable  foe 
was  given  out,  first  under  lease,  but  later  in  freehold,  to 
genuine  colonists  whose  presence  and  improvements  it  was 
intended  should  ensure  the  safety  of  the  new  settlement 
which  Jan  Pieterzoon  Coen  declared  was  to  be  called 
Batavia  in  future.^ 

This  action  of  the  Government  did  not,  however,  prevent 
outlaws  of  all  descriptions  terrorising  the  country  outside 
the  gates  of  Batavia,  and  it  was  really  not  until  the  dawn  of 
the  eighteenth  century  that  it  was  safe  for  the  owners  to  Hve 
on  their  estates. 

^  The  first  act  of  ownership  is  dated  the  8th  April,  1639. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  645 

The  estate  of  Cornells  Seenen,  so  called  after  the  Bandanese 
to  whom  it  was  sold  in  1652,  was  one  of  the  earliest  sold. 
In  those  days  it  was  far  out  in  the  country  and  was  looked 
upon  as  quite  a  long  day's  journey  away,  there  being  at 
first  no  road  there  and  thick  forests  intervening  ;  the  easiest 
way  was  by  water  up  the  Tjilewong  river.  The  first  sale  on 
a  large  scale,  how^ever,  did  not  take  place  until  1705,  when 
Depok  and  Seringsing  were  bought  by  Chastelein,  one  of  the 
"  raads  "  of  India,^  who  eventually  transferred  all  liis 
property  to  his  emancipated  slaves  on  the  condition  of  their 
embracing  Christianity.  We  see  here  the  reason  why  so 
many  of  the  natives  of  Depok  are  said  to  be  Christians. 

On  the  10th  August,  1745,  the  large  estate  of  Bogoli  was 
bought  ex  officio  by  the  Governor- General  van  Imhoff  for  a 
mere  nothing.  The  estate  of  Kampoeng  Malayo,  which  is 
immediately  beyond  Meester  CorneHs  (Batavia),  was  in  1777 
owned  by  W.  A.  Alting.  It  is  described  as  a  large  estate 
(groote  landgoed  Kampoeng  Malajo)  one  and  a  half  hour's 
journey  from  the  house  of  the  Cornelis  estate.  Alting,  who 
died  in  1800,  was  also  o^^Tier  in  1797  of  the  estate  of 
Goenoeng  Sari,^  which  had  been  bought  by  Chinese  in  1762 
at  the  Governor- General  Mossel's  auction  after  his  death. 
The  old  land-house  of  Goenoeng  Sari  is  still  to  be  seen, 
and  is  well  worth  a  visit.  Governor-General  van  Imhoff 
is  supposed  to  have  resided  here  for  some  time.  In  1772 
Slingerland,  near  Tandjing  Priok,  was  owned  by  Willem 
Vincent  Helvetius  van  Eiemsdyk,  who  was  an  upper 
merchant  ("  opper  koopman ")  and  Government  repre- 
sentative for  native  affairs  ("  gewezen  Gecommitteerden 
tot  en  over  de  Zaken  van  den  Inlander  ").  The  remains  of 
his  old  house  are  still  visible.* 

'  Member  of  Viceroy's  Council. 
^  Now  part  of  Batavia. 

■^  Long  before  this,  about  1625  perhaps,  the  family  van  Slingerlandt 
owned  it. 


646  JAVA 

The  well-known  lands  of  Poudok  Gedeh  and  Tjisereuh 
(in  old  charts  called  "  Tjiseroewa  "  and  by  Raffles  "  Cice- 
roewa ")  were  owned  in  1775  by  the  Governor- General 
Jeremias  van  Riemsdyk,  whose  family  owned  estates  shortly 
after  this  on  a  great  scale.  This  was  due  to  the  forethought 
and  generosity  of  their  worthy  senior  and  Governor- General. 
Acts  were  duly  made  up  for  these  lands  by  the  public  notary 
Blomhert  at  Batavia. 

When  Daendels  arrived  he  no  longer  sold  estates  of  a  few 
thousands  of  acres,  but  sold  when  he  could  whole  Provinces 
or  Residencies  ;  it  was  thus  that  Probolingo  and  Besoeki 
were  handed  over  to  Chinese.  We  know,  however,  that 
owing  to  constant  troubles  Raffles  was  obliged  to  buy  these 
Residencies  back  again,  but  he  disposed  of  a  number  of 
estates  to  EngHsh  and  Dutch  colonists  to  help  an  empty 
treasury.  Since  1816^  no  more  freehold  estates  have  been 
sold,  although  in  1849  such  sales  were  again  strongly  advo- 
cated. These  freehold  estates  are  designated  as  "  particuliere 
landerijen  "^  by  the  Dutch  Government. 

The  following  notes  were  made  about  different  estates 
during  the  British  occupation  ;  the  date  is  1811  : — 

"  After  proceeding  about  thirty  miles  through  jungle  and 
crossing  numerous  ravines  and  the  two  considerable  rivers 
Oonderandy  and  Tjicandee,  you  come  to  the  better  cultivated 
country  of  Tjisingha  [Jasinga],  Here  is  a  very  jBne  Dutch  farm 
belonging  to  Mr.  Reintz^  [Reynst].  It  is  agreeably  situated  on 
the  river  Tjidorean,  which  in  the  rains  is  very  rapid  and  scarcely 
passable." 

Another  portion  of  the  account  goes  on  to  say  : — 

"  At  a  distance  of  about  ten  miles  the  road  turns  last  to  Sading, 
another  Dutch  farm  belonging  to  Mr.  Motman,*  which  is  situated 

*  There  is  au  exception  to  this  in  the  estates  of  Tjikandie.  They  were 
really  sold  before  1816,  but  the  conditions  cotdd  not  be  settled. 

"^  Private  lands. 
"  P.  Reynst. 

*  W.  G.  C.  van  Motman. 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  647 

on  a  fine  river,  and  nearly  surrounded  by  hills,  some  of  which 
produce  the  edible  birds'  nests.  Continuing  on  to  Tjiampion, 
about  seven  miles  further,  we  had  to  cross  the  rivers  Tjikanakee 
and  Tjiantan  and  passed  through  a  country  high  and  more  open 
with  better  cultivation.  Here  is  another  Dutch  farm  the  property 
of  j\Ir.  Rymsdyck^  with  a  large  bazaar  [passer  or  market]  and 
several  hills  belonging  to  it  containing  also  the  edible  birds'  nests. 
It  is  astonishing  what  an  immense  revenue  is  produced  by  a  single 
rock,  the  caverns  of  which  are  frequented  by  the  little  grey 
swallows,  for  the  nests  in  some  of  them  clear  from  twenty  to 
forty  thousand  Spanish  dollars  annually. 

"  The  Dutch  farmers  who  possess  rocks  of  this  kind  on  their 
estates  are  therefore  very  careful  of  them,  and  watch  them  closely 
to  prevent  the  Chinese  or  others  from  privately  stealing  the 
nests." 

At  Tjimangies  there  was  also  a  Dutch  **  farm."  This 
estate  was  sold  early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  The  account, 
which  is  that  of  an  English  traveller,  goes  on  to  say  : — 

"  Leaving  Tjimangies  the  road  passes  by  Tjibinong,  which  is 
another  of  iVIr.  Rymsdyck's  farms,  and  by  Tjiloar,  distant 
thirty  miles  from  Batavia.  This  last  is  a  very  pretty  place, 
and  was  for  some  time  the  country  residence  of  Major- 
General  Gillespie.  It  was  built  by  the  late  IVir.  Tantzie,^  who 
had  another  very  pleasant  villa  and  farm  at  Soucarajah 
[Soekaradja].  Tjiloar  had  a  large  sized  brig  full  rigged  and 
mounting  guns,  sailing  on  an  elevated  tank,  or  lake  made  by 
IVIr.  Tantzie,  and  being  seen  a  long  way  off  the  traveller  is  very 
agreeably  surprised  on  first  beholding  this  vessel  under  sail 
apparently  moving  through  the  surrounding  rice  fields.  The 
house  at  Soucourajah,  which  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  large 
tank  on  stone  pillars,  is  a  very  beautiful  place  ;  on  the  north 
side  is  the  entrance,  over  a  long  passage  of  pillars  with  a  draw- 
bridge, and  on  the  south  side  a  beautiful  avenue  is  presented 
laved  by  a  crystal  stream,  which,  covering  the  whole  breadth 
of  the  avenue  like  a  mirror,  glides  gently  down  on  the  banks  of 
the  tanks,  and  flows  into  the  lake  close  to  the  house.     Half-way 

'  J.  J.  H.  van  Riemsdyk — see  list  of  inhabitants. 
*  Tan  Sie,  a  Chinaman. 


648  JAVA 

between  Tjiloar  and  Buitenzorg  the  road  leads  over  the  great 
river.  A  bamboo  raft  is  used  for  crossing  the  carriage  and  horses 
over,  without  the  necessity  of  quitting  the  carriage  or  taking  out 
the  horses,  the  float  being  fastened  to  the  sides  of  the  river  by 
a  strong  bamboo  twist,  one  man,  by  pulling  towards  the  one  or  the 
other  end,  easily  moves  it  across,  and  the  carriage  and  horses  pass 
on  without  delay  or  trouble. 

"  From  Buitenzorg  the  road  passes  through  hilly  but  finely 
cultivated  country,  and  passes  several  very  agreeable  country- 
residences  and  farms.  At  Pondok  Gede  is  one,  beautifully 
situated,  belonging  to  ]\Ir.  Egelhardt,^  formerly  Governor  of 
Samarang,  and  opposite  to  it  is  another  farm  of  Mr.  Rymsdyck. 
Close  to  this,  on  the  top  of  a  high  hill,  is  a  new  farm  of  the  late 
Mr.  Tantzie,  which  overlooks  the  entire  plain  of  the  kingdom  of 
Jacatra.  At  Tjiceroa,  the  last  of  Mr.  Rymsdyck's  farms,  a  steep 
ascent  of  the  road  commences." 

The  land  of  "  Kampong  Mangis,"  beyond  Meester  Cornells 
at  Batavia,  was  bought  about  1813  by  Alexander  Hare,  the 
English  Resident  of  Banjermassin  (see  chapter  on  Industries  : 
Tea,  paragraph  on  Meester  Cornelis). 

The  land  was  managed  by  Alexander  Hare's  son,  also 
called  Alexander,  until  he  died  at  Batavia. 

Below  are  given  accounts  of  the  original  owners  of  the 
lands  sold  by  the  British  Government  from  1812  to  1815, 
also  the  Dutch  and  foreign  owners  of  estates  in  the  native 
provinces  before  1825. 

From  this  latter  it  will  be  seen  that  the  only  Englishmen 
who  held  lands  were  Stavers  (formerly  an  Ensign  of  Hussars 
1813  in  Java,  mentioned  honourably  in  Java  War,  1825), 
who  owned  Singosarie,  and  Gillian  Maclaine,  John  Argyle 
Maxwell,  and  William  Cotes  (late  Lieutenant  in  the  English 
Army  of  occupation  1811 — 1816),  who  owned  Getas  next  to 
the  estate  of  Melambong,  which  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  C.  W. 
Baron  van  Heeckeren  and  Mr.  Enger.^ 

'  Nicolaus  Engelhard. 

"  Melambong,  which  was  owned  in  1820  by  Medard  Louis,  a  well-known 
Frenchman,  was  sold  bv  him  on  the  22nd  March,  1821,  to  Gillian  Maclaine» 


THE   TOWNS   IN   JAVA,   ETC.  649 

Owners  of  Estates  of  Pamanoekan  and  Tjiassem,  1812 — 

1817. 

Sir  Charles  Forbes, ^  Colonel  John  Skelton. 

Messrs.  Forbes  &  Co.,  Bombay.  James  Young. 

Messrs.  Shrapnell  &  Co.,  Batavia.  Thomas  Fox. 
Philip  Skelton. 

Notes. 

(1)  Most  of  the  shares  were  held  by  Sir  Charles  Forbes  and 
Forbes  &  Co.,  Bombay,  who  had  an  interest  also  in  Shrapnell  & 
Co.,  1812  ;  Shrapnell,  Skelton  &  Co.,  1814  ;  and  Skelton  &  Co., 
1815  to  1821,  which  firms  acted  as  directors  in  Java  under  instruc- 
tions from  Bombay. 

(2)  In  the  Batavia  Courant  of  the  28th  September,  1816, 
appears  the  following  advertisement : — 

"  For  sale   the   Estates  of   '  Pamanoekan '   and  Tjiassem,' 
lying  in  the  district  of  Crawang  ;    for  particulars  enquire  of 
Messrs.  Skelton  &  Co." 
In  the  Batavia  Courant  of  the  24th  May,  1817,  the  estates  were 

again  advertised  for  sale  as  follows  : — 

"  Advertisement. — On  or  about  the  20th  June  the  Estates 
of  Pamanoekan  and  Tjassem,  in  the  district  of  Crawang,  wUl 
be  sold  at  Public  Auction.  The  exact  day  of  the  auction  will  be 
made  public  later  on.  Batavia,  23rd  May,  1817.  Skelton  &  Co." 
The  new  shareholders  were,  as  far  as  can  be  traced — 

Sir  Charles  Forbes.  PhUip  Skelton. 

Messrs.  Forbes  &  Co.,  Bombay.    Thomas  Miln. 

Messrs.  Skelton  &  Co.,  Batavia.    Thomas  Fox. 

Messrs  Inglis,  Forbes  &  Co.,  James  Young. 

London.  2 

General  John  Skelton.  Thomas  Macquoid. 

William  Menzies  (of  the  firm  of  Menzies  and  Anderson),  and  the  above 
William  Cotes. 

Medard  Louis  remained,  as  administrator,  responsible,  although  Gillian 
Maclaine  was  the  leading  spirit  until  April,  1822,  when  he  left  the  interior 
for  Batavia  to  found  the  firm  of  Maclaine,  Watson  &  Co.  Getas  was 
eventually  sold  by  GUlian  Maclaine  to  J.  A.  Dezentje,  of  Ampel. 

1  The  head  of  Forbes  &  Co. 

'  Inglis,  Forbes  &  Co.  (later  on  Smith  Inglis)  were  the  financial  agents 
in  London.  In  1820  George  Haswell  probably  also  became  interested  in 
the  estate  for  a  small  share.  In  August,  1822,  Messrs.  Stewart  Turing 
&  Co.  opened  at  Batavia  and  became  managing  directors  of  the  estates  at 
the  end  of  the  year. 

From  want  of  local  knowledge  and  of  general  experience,  and  from  a 


650  JAVA 

Estate  of  Jasinga. 

(formerly  belonging  to  the  owner  of  Buitenzorg). 

1812.  Sir  Charles  Forbes,  James  Shrapnell,  Philip  Skelton. 
1822.  Sir   Charles   Forbes,   David   Alexander   Fraser,   Simon 
Fraser, 

1831.  Robert  Addison. 
1853.  Jonathan  Rigg. 

Note. 

James  Newland,  the  English  administrator,  who  had  previously 
been  at  Tjikandie  Slier,  died  at  Jasinga  on  the  10th  May,  1844, 
He  arrived  in  Java  in  1829,  and  was  immediately  engaged  by 
Gillian  Maclaine.  He  had  probably  come  from  Benkoelen  or 
Padang.     His  father  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Royal  Indian  Navy. 

Estate  of  Soekaboemi.^ 

1812—1814.  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  three  sixths;  Thomas 
Macquoid,  one  sixth  ;  Andries  de  Wilde  (see  note)  one  sixth  ; 
Nicolaus  Engelhard,  one  sixth. 

1814.  Andries  de  Wilde,  two  sixths ;  Nicolaus  Engelhard, 
three  sixths  ;   Thomas  Macquoid,  one  sixth. 

1814 — 1823.  Andries  de  Wilde,  five  sixths  ;  Thomas  Macquoid, 
one  sixth. 

desire  to  make  money  too  quickly  and  reckless  speculations,  Stewart 
Turing  &  Co.  failed  disastrously  in  1825,  leaving  the  affairs  of  the  estates 
in  a  hopeless  muddle,  and  with  heavy  loss. 

James  Young  and  Thomas  Fox  returned  to  Java  bankrupt.  The 
former  had  just  lost  his  wife  before  sailing.  At  this  juncture  the  affairs 
of  the  estate  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  Alexander  London,  who  became 
administrator.  In  1828  Miln,  Haswell  &  Co.  became  directors.  London 
remained  at  the  estate  until  the  end  of  August,  1828.  John  Pitcairn  was 
employed  here  1824 — 1827,  and  Ed\\ard  Campbell  (late  lieutenant  K.N.) 
1826—1828. 

In  1826  there  was  again  a  shuffle  in  the  shares,  but  in  1831  Sir  Charles 
Forbes  was  still  the  largest  shareholder,  and  probably  remained  so  till 
1841,  when  T.  B.  Hofland  bought  them.  In  1838  Wilson,  Smith  &  Co. 
were  financial  agents  at  Batavia,  probably  also  directors,  until  their 
failure.     Both  had  been  in  the  British  Government's  service. 

According  to  a  prospectus  dated  London  the  18th  April,  1910,  the 
estates  were  bought  by  the  Anglo-Dutch  Plantation  of  Java  Company  for 
eighteen  million  gilders. 

*  The  original  price  for  which  this  land  was  bought  in  at  auction  was 
58,000  Spanish  matten.  It  was  bought  back  by  the  Dutch  Government 
in  1823  for  £800,000. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  651 

Note  on  Andries  de  Wilde. 

Andries  de  Wilde  was  born  at  Amsterdam  on  the  2l8t  November, 
1781,  a  son  of  Cornells  de  Wilde  and  Marretje  Harsnis.  He  began 
life  on  the  sea,  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Camperdown  on 
the  11th  October,  1797,  and  captured  by  the  English  fleet  on 
board  the  flagship  of  Admiral  de  Winter,  He  had  a  bad  time  as 
prisoner  in  England,  but  he  learnt  good  English,  which  was  to  be 
very  useful  to  him  later  on.  De  Wilde  came  to  Java  about  1800 
to  his  stepfather  Steitz,  a  doctor,  who,  after  practising  at  Buiten- 
zorg  in  1804,  went  to  Soerabaj^a  in  1805,  where  he  died  on  the 
13th  February,  1810.  In  1811  de  Wilde  joined  the  Government 
service,  and  under  Raffles  was  appointed  "  opziener,"  first  (on 
the  28th  March,  1812)  at  Trogong,  and  again  by  a  proclamation 
of  the  2nd  April.  By  a  proclamation  of  the  10th  August,  1812, 
he  was  appointed  assistant  to  the  Resident  at  Bandoeng  on  a 
salary  of  100  Spanish  matten.  This  appointment  was  again 
confirmed  by  a  proclamation  of  the  28th  May,  1813.  On  the 
10th  March,  1814,  Resident  Thomas  Macquoid  informed  the 
Government  that  de  WUde  had  asked  for  his  discharge  "  as  my 
assistant  cofifee  overseer  of  Bandong."  In  a  letter  dated  the 
12th  May,  1814  (to  be  found  in  a  proclamation  of  the  30th  May, 
1814),  Macquoid  speaks  of  "  his  late  resignation  of  these  situations." 
By  a  letter  from  Raffles,  which  by  a  proclamation  of  the  13th  May, 
1815,  was  confirmed,  de  Wilde  was  appointed  "  superintendent 
of  vaccination  "  in  the  Preanger.  In  this  capacity  he  did  well, 
and  boasts  of  once  having  vaccinated  40,000  children  in  the 
Cheribon  district  with  success,  but  this  probably  is  an  exaggera- 
tion. 

The  exact  extent  of  the  district,  however,  which  he  had  to 
control  is  not  certain,  owing  to  the  carelessness  of  the  young 
Englishman  responsible  for  the  keeping  of  the  books  at  the  time. 
In  any  case,  Macquoid  speaks  full  of  praise  of  him,  and  in  a  letter 
dated  the  12th  May,  1814,  says  :  "I  am  happy  to  avail  myself 
of  this  opportunity  of  bearing  my  testimony  to  the  uniform  zeal, 
activity  and  good  conduct  of  Mr.  de  WUde  as  a  Government 
servant,  and  I  feel  very  sensibly  the  loss  I  have  sustained  ;  " 
while  Raffles  in  his  proclamation  of  the  13th  May,  1815,  makes  a 
great  deal  of  his  "  extensive  local  knowledge  "  of  the  Preanger. 

With  regard  to  de  Wilde's  position  as  a  landowner,  in  a  letter 
to  Macquoid  (which  Raffles  made  use  of  when  defending  himself 


652  JAVA 

against  Gillespie's  charges)  he  says  :  "  During  the  administration 
of  H.  E.  General  Daendels  I  applied  for  the  purchase  of  the  estate 
in  Bandong  which  is  now  my  property.  H.  E.  did  actually 
promise  to  grant  my  request  [Dr.  de  Haan,  the  author  of 
"  Priangan,"  hereon  remarks  "  zeer  zonderling  ;  primo  omdat 
Daendels  in  zyn  Staat  p.  Ill  zegt  dat  '  in  de  Bataviasche  Regent- 
schappen  het  verkoopen  van  landerijen  geen  plaats  kon  hebben 
zonder  aan  de  kofEy  cultuur  onherstelbaar  nadeel  toe  te  brengen  ' 
secundo  omdat  hy  een  dood  vijand  van  uitstellen  was  "]  and 
animated  me  to  cultivate  the  land  and  appropriate  a  portion  of 
it  for  the  improvement  of  the  breed  of  cattle.  A  short  time  after, 
on  the  arrival  of  H.  E.  General  Janssens,  I  repeated  my  application 
and  received  the  same  assurance."  Later  on  he  made  the  same 
request  to  the  English  Government,  but  receivmg  no  reply,  he 
called  on  Gillespie  and  asked  his  help.  The  latter,  he  says, 
"  encouraged  me  to  go  on  meanwhile  with  the  improvements 
already  began.  I  laid  out  the  whole  of  my  capital  in  consequence, 
so  far  that  the  expenses  incurred  for  clearing  the  ground,  pur- 
chasing cattle,  etc.,  exceeded  the  sum  of  6,000  Sp.  dollars  before 
I  was  the  proprietor  of  the  soil.  This  considerable  outlay 
rendered  me  naturally  anxious  to  see  my  request  admitted,  as  the 
contrary  would  have  occasioned  my  total  ruin,  and  the  promises 
of  Major-General  GUlespie  and  afterwards  those  of  the  Honourable 
the  Lieutenant-Governor  induced  me  to  persevere  in  my  applica- 
tion until  the  lands  were  finally  sold  to  me."  The  proof  that  de 
Wilde  did  persevere  in  the  direction  indicated  in  his  above  letter 
is  given  by  his  request,  published  in  the  form  of  an  ordinance, 
dated  the  25th  November,  1811,  in  which  he  desires  a  piece  of 
ground  in  the  wilds  near  Bandong  to  the  extent  of  one  thousand 
morgens  (acres).  This  request  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a 
"  commission,"  of  which  a  Government  employee  called  Bauer 
was  apparently  the  president.  On  the  31st  December,  1811,  the 
commission  advised  that  the  estate  should  be  hired  for  a  period 
of  twenty -five  years,  although  Tency,  a  member  of  the  commission, 
was  for  selling  it  for  6,000  Spanish  matten,  the  sum  asked  for  the 
hire  only.  This  brought  forth  a  second  request  from  de  Wilde 
in  October,  1812,  in  which  he  says  :  "  I  had  since  long  ago  the 
desire  of  being  owner  of  an  estate,  the  more  having  succeeded  in 
the  time  of  two  years  remarkably  well  by  a  stud  and  in  the 
cultivation  of  European  grains,  and  it  is  only  from  want  of  land 
I  have  not  given  to  the  latter  cultivation  that  extent  to  which  it 


THE   TOWNS    IX   JAVA,    ETC.  653 

can  be  brought.  The  regency  of  Bandong  having  several  pieces 
of  land  which  never  have  been  cultivated,  nor  never  will  be  by  the 
natives,  from  which  Government  has  no  revenue  whatever,  I 
should  choose  to  be  o^vner  of  such  a  piece  of  land.  Being  placed 
at  Bandong  as  overseer  of  the  coffee  plantations,  I  could  at  the 
same  time  administer  my  estate,  from  which  Government  has 
always  a  right  to  call  for  the  first  of  its  produce."  He  asks, 
therefore,  for  another  estate  not  clearly  indicated,  "  promising  to 
cultivate  it  as  far  as  lays  in  my  power  and  that  I  shall  take  no 
assistance  from  the  regent  for  the  stud  of  horses,  bullocks,  and 
buffalos,  which  I  mean  to  erect  there,  and  that  I  shall  cultivate 
my  estate  by  my  own  slaves  or  hired  natives."  In  a  letter  dated 
the  22nd  December,  1812,  to  the  secretary  to  the  Government 
about  the  sale  of  this  estate  to  de  WUde,  Macquoid  says  :  "  I 
conceive  he  has  every  title  to  consideration  and  encouragement 
in  consequence  of  having  already  cleared  away  and  cultivated  a 
considerable  part  of  the  lot  he  now  proposes  to  purchase,  and 
having  embarked  a  large  sum  in  improving  the  breed  of  horses 
and  other  cattle  upon  it."  Raffles  seems  to  have  been  of  the  same 
opinion,  for  he  says  :  "  'Mr.  de  Wilde  was  then  informed  in  reply 
to  his  repeated  solicitations,  that  when  the  sale  of  lands  took  place 
generally  he  might  offer  a  fair  and  reasonable  sum  for  the  lot  he 
required."  At  last  de  Wilde,  as  a  result  of  his  continual  perse- 
verance, eventually  secured  the  estate  of  "  Oedjoeng  Broeng  " 
for  40,000  ryksdaalders,  calculated  at  six  and  a  half  to  the 
Spanish  matten  (the  ordinance  is  dated  the  22nd  January,  1813. 
Dr.  de  Haan  remarks,  just  before  the  public  auctions). 

For  most  people,  however,  the  particulars  of  the  purchase 
of  Soekaboemi,  in  which  Raffles,  de  Wilde,  N.  Engelhard,  and 
Thomas  Macquoid  all  shared,  is  even  more  interesting.  From 
east  to  west  this  enormous  estate  included  the  lots  Goenoeng 
Parang,  Tjimahi,  Tjiheulang,  and  Tjitjoeroeg.  The  purchase 
price  of  these  lots  in  the  same  order  was  30,500,  15,200,  6,100, 
and  6,200  Spanish  matten,  or  altogether  58,000,  for  land  that 
stretched  from  the  Tjikoepa  in  the  east  to  the  Tjimandiri  in  the 
south,  to  the  present  boundaries  of  Batavia  and  Bantam,  and 
to  those  of  Wynkoops  Bay.  There  were  undoubtedly  irregu- 
larities in  this  sale,  but  whether  the  fault  was  de  Wilde's, 
Macquoid's  and  Engelhard's  (all  members  of  the  "  board  of 
commission  "  for  the  auctions),  or  Macquoid's  only  will  never  be 
cleared  up  ;  but  this  much  is  certain,  that  it  was  Raffles'  intention 


654>  JAVA 

to  become  a  large  landowner  in  Java,  and  his  choice  fell  on  the 
best  country  in  the  island  ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  Gillespie's 
poisoned  complaints  to  the  Indian  Viceroy,  Raffles  would  never 
have  sold  his  half-share  in  the  estate,  and  Singapore,  as  Dr.  de 
Haan  remarks,  might  never  have  fallen  under  the  British  flag. 
Raffles  when  Java  was  returned  to  the  Dutch  would  have 
remained  in  the  island  to  manage  the  huge  tract  of  country  of 
which  he  was  the  owner  with  sovereign  rights.  The  sale  of 
Soekaboemi  took  place  on  the  25th  January,  1813.  De  Wilde 
became  the  administrator  of  the  country,  and  went  to  live  at 
Tjicolle  (the  present  town)  as  soon  as  Raffles  and  Engelhard 
sold  their  shares  in  a  hurry  to  him.  He  then  changed  the  name 
to  Soekaboemi.  This  appears  from  his  letter  to  Engelhard 
dated  the  13th  Januaiy,  1815  :  "  Ik  mag  U.  E.  G.  Achtbare  niet 
onkundig  laten  dat  ik  opverzoek  van  de  Inlandsche  Hoofden 
den  naam  van  Tjicolle  in  die  van  Soeka  Boemi  veranderd  heb." 
He  built  himself  a  fine  house,  which  is  said  to  have  stood  where 
the  late  Hotel  Ploem  was.  There  was  a  billiard  table  in  it ; 
he  had  a  party  of  slave  minstrels  ;  and  kept,  according  to  the 
custom  of  those  times,  a  harem  of  twenty-five  concubines.  For 
various  reasons  the  country  was  sold  back  again  to  the  Govern- 
ment for  £800,000  on  the  12th  January,  1823.  Andries  died  at 
84  years  of  age  in  April,  1865,  at  Utrecht,  in  Holland. 

Estate  of  Get  as. 

1820 — 1822.  Gillian  Maclaine,  John  Argyle  Maxwell,  William 
Cotes. 

1823.  Johannes  Augustinus  Dezentje. 

Estate  of  Melambong  (near  Salatiga). 

1821  (22nd  March).  Gillian  Maclaine,  William  Menzies,  Firm 
of  Menzies  and  Anderson,  William  Cotes^  (each  for  a  quarter). 

1822—1824.  Maclaine  &  Co.,  Macquoid,  Davidson  &  Co.,  Gillian 
Maclaine,  William  Cotes  (each  for  a  quarter). 

1825—1828.  Maclaine  &  Co.,  G.  Maclaine,  W.  Cotes,  H.  Burnaby 
(each  for  a  quarter). 

1828 — 1830.  G.  Maclaine,  P.  MacLachlan,  D.  Maclntyre,  John 
Argyle  Maxwell  (first  for  one  sixth,  second  and  third  for  two  sixths, 
fourth  for  one  sixth). 

1831.  G.  Maclaine,  D.  Maclntyre  (each  for  one  half). 

^  Cotes  secured  this  estate  for  Menzies  and  Anderson  under  the  influence 
of  J.  A.  Dezentje. 


THE   TOWNS    IN   JAVA,    ETC.  655 

Notes. 

(1)  Medard  Louis  was  administrator  from  1821  to  1823  ;  he 
was  followed  by  William  Browne,  the  brother  of  an  unsuccessful 
Samarang  merchant. 

(2)  Gillian  Maclaine  sold  his  half -share  in  1831  for  £3,500 
(45,000  florins). 

(3)  During  1825  Macquoid,  Davidson  &  Co.  liquidated. 

(4)  H.  Burnaby  left  Java,  1828. 

(5)  After  1831  the  estate  still  remained  for  several  years  in 
connection  with  Maclaine,  Watson  &  Co.'s  agent  at  Samarang, 
J.  Macneill. 

Estate  of  Koeripan 
(on  the  main  road  between  Batavia  and  Buitenzorg). 

1822—1824.  Gillian  Maclaine,  William  Menzies,i  William 
Thompson.  2 

1824—1825.  G.  Maclaine  &  Co.,  Addison  &  Co.,  Thompson, 
Whiteman  &  Co.,  Macquoid,  Davidson  &  Co.  (each  for  one  quarter). 

1826 — 1828.  G.  Maclaine,  J.  A.  Maxwell,  P.  McLachlan, 
D.  Mclntyre,  D.  McLachlan  (first  two  for  four  twenty-fourths, 
third  and  fourth  for  seven  twenty -fourths,  last  for  two  twenty- 
fourths). 

1829—1833.  G.  Maclaine,  E.  Watson,  D.  Mclntyre  (each  for 
one-third). 

Notes. 

(!)  In  1821  Government  lent  G.  Maclaine  40,000  florins  to  work 
this  estate. 

(2)  In  1825  G.  Maclaine  bought  Addison  &  Co.'s  share. 

(3)  In  1833  the  estate  was  sold  to  William  Menzies  and  W. 
Coates,  an  old  sea  captain,  who  arrived  at  Batavia  in  command 
of  the  brig  Virginia  for  Madras,  on  the  28th  March,  1814,  and 
stayed  in  the  archipelago,  his  first  ship  being  Admiral  Drury  in 
1814. 

(4)  Menzies  and  Thompson  continued  to  have  a  share  in 
Gillian  Maclaine's  share  from  1826  to  1829  or  1833. 

(5)  From  the  Dutch  Government's  financial  report,  1833  (see 
Javasche  Courant  of  the  31st  August,  1833),  it  is  to  be  seen  that 
the  estate  was  worked  on  the  contract  system,  Government 
supplying  the  capital. 

1  Firm  of  Menzies  and  Anderson. 

2  Firm  of  Thompaou.  Whiteman  &  Co.  ;  later  Thompson,  Roberts  &  Co. 


656  JAVA 

(6)  Gillian  Maclaine,  who  seems  always  to  have  been  prompt 
with  his  obligations  to  Government,  gained  an  exceptionally 
good  character  with  the  Dutch  officials,  who  placed  him  above 
all  the  other  British,  and  quite  in  a  class  by  himself. 

Dedekkan  Lands. 
1827.  Gillian  Maclaine.  1 

Estates  owned  by  Englishmen  in  Java,  1830. 

Pamanoekan  and  Tjiassem  (1,200  square  miles) :  Sir  Charles 
Forbes  and  others. 

Tjikandie  Iher  (130  square  miles)  :  John  Palmer  (Palmer  &  Co., 
Calcutta)  and  Cockerell ;  managing  directors  in  Java,  Maclaine, 
Watson  &  Co. 

Tjikandie  Oedik  (90  square  miles)  :  Trail  and  Young. 

Jasinga  (80  square  miles)  :   Robert  Addison. 

Bolan  (90  square  miles)  :   J.  Drury. 

Koeripan  (70  square  miles)  :  Gillian  Maclaine,  William  Menzies, 
and  Thompson. 

{Note. — Gillian  Maclaine  had  an  interest  in  this  land  in 
1821,  having  bought  it  from  the  Hollander  Tency.  It  had 
been  a  rice  land  for  nearly  a  hundred  years,  and  was  bought 
originally  by  a  Dutch  colonist). 

Tegal  Waroe  (100  square  miles)  :   D.  A.  Eraser  (late  of  Skelton 
&  Co.)  and  others. 
Bekassie  (60  square  miles)  :  J.  Trail  and  James  Young  (coffee). 
Singosarie  :  William  Stavers. 

This  is  a  "  piagem "  or  deed  of  contract  given  by  the 
Susuhanan  or  Emperor  of  Soerakarta,  Paku  Buvana  Senopati 
Ingabaga  Ngabdoer  Rachman  Sayidin  Panatagama,  to  Johannes 
AugustinusDezentje  on  behalf  of  Pierre  Hamar  de  la  Brethoniere 
for  the  estate  of  "  Assinan,"  consisting  of  24  tjatjas,  or  six 
djoongs,  on  the  31st  December,  1827. 

1  By  contract  with  the  Sultan  of  Djojakerta  G.  Maclaine  bought  the 
ownership  for  thirteen  years  at  1,000  florins  (gilders  or  rupees)  per  annum  ; 
this  was  later  increased  to  1,400  florins  a  year  for  nineteen  years. 


END    OF    VOL.    I. 


BRADBURY     AGNBW,    &  CO.   LD.     PBINTBRS,    LOJTOON   AND   TONBRIDGE. 


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